A recent report highlights growing concerns among the UK workforce regarding the impact of status indicators on employee well-being.
- 44% of UK employees feel compelled to remain available at all times, leading to increased anxiety.
- Status indicators on platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack contribute to a lack of trust and stress among workers.
- 84% of surveyed employees manipulate their status indicators to manage perceptions at work.
- While some find benefits, most employees do not believe status indicators enhance productivity.
Over 44% of the UK workforce feels significant pressure to remain constantly visible at work due to the pervasive use of status indicators. According to a survey from Perkbox Vivup, these indicators—common in tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack—are affecting employee stress levels and trust within organisations.
The report reveals that 26% of UK workers experience continuous pressure to demonstrate their activity online, while 14% feel that they are not trusted even when present. Additionally, 12% of employees are unable to disconnect from work, indicating a pervasive ‘always on’ culture.
Karl Bennett, Wellbeing Director at Perkbox Vivup, stated, ‘Employees potentially aren’t fully aware of the impact the status indicator has on their mental health and physiology. There is a case to be made that employees who feel trusted and connected to their employers are less likely to be concerned about the status indicator.’
The survey further indicates that a significant 84% of individuals manually adjust their status indicators, with 10% doing so to appear busy and 11% to avoid appearing online during overtime. Furthermore, 9% change their status to evade their managers and colleagues, while others use these settings to manage focus or avoid distractions.
Despite the negative aspects, over 50% of respondents acknowledge that status indicators help them understand colleague availability, and 25% report they assist in time management. However, a majority, 83%, do not believe these tools aid in productivity.
Jennifer Healy, Group Chief People Officer at Perkbox Vivup, commented on the ‘outdated badge of pride’ associated with being busy. She emphasised the need for employers to build a culture of trust, facilitating clearer communication and allowing employees to set personal and professional boundaries.
The pressure from status indicators calls for a balanced approach where employees can set boundaries that enhance their productivity and well-being.
