Exposure to new workplace technologies linked to lower quality of life

Exposure to new technologies such as trackers, robots, and AI software in the workplace work is linked with lower quality of life for workers, a UK study has found. 

The Institute for the Future of Work surveyed over 6,000 people and examined how four types of technologies that are becoming more common in the workplace affected their well-being. The researchers discovered that workers who used three of these technologies — AI and machine learning software, wearable trackers for surveillance, and robotics — reported a lower level of health-related well-being, according to a widely used standardized measurement.

Fewer than 25% of those surveyed frequently used these emerging technologies, with 20.2% using wearables, 20.8% AI software, and 23.7% robotics. Their adoption in the workplace was linked to adverse effects including increased stress, lower job satisfaction, feelings of disempowerment, and intensified task-related anxiety, according to the study, Does technology use impact UK workers’ quality of life?

Commenting on the research, several IT experts pointed to a problem, not with the new technologies themselves, but with the training and enterprise culture around them.

Growing pressures

That such symptoms might be associated with the introduction of new technologies came as little surprise for James McQuiggan, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4 who is unconnected with the study.

IT and cybersecurity workers tend to feel burnt out due to a lack of resources and educational upkeep, which makes them doubt their ability to secure the organization effectively, he said.

“Undue pressures and the introduction of new technologies certainly add to the concern of ‘being kept up at night’ when they lack the complete understanding or resources to integrate securely or properly within the organization,” he said. “Added to that, when upper management wants to use the product or service insecurely, it’s always the IT or cybersecurity folks who deal with the blame when something happens to the organization, like a breach or data loss.”

Phones linked with improved morale

On the other hand, the surveyed workers reported improved quality of life when they regularly used more established information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, and messaging tools. Over 60% frequently engaged with these digital devices.

“We found that quality of life appeared to be positively correlated with the frequency of interaction with ICTs… whereas a negative correlation was observed between quality of life and the frequency of interaction with newer workplace technologies,” the study said.

Part of the problem is that IT workers need to stay updated with the newest tech trends and figure out how to use them at work, said Ryan Smith, founder of the tech firm QFunction, also unconnected with the study. The hard part is that new tech keeps coming in, and workers have to learn it, set it up, and help others use it quickly, he said.

“With the rise of AI and machine learning and the uncertainty around it, being asked to come up to speed with it and how to best utilize it so quickly, all while having to support your other numerous IT tasks, is exhausting,” he added. “On top of this, the constant fear of layoffs in the job market forces IT workers to keep up with the latest technology trends in order to stay employable, which can negatively affect their quality of life.”

The most significant impact of new technology is the increased demands it places on the time of IT workers, said Dean Newton, a general partner at investment firm Relevance Ventures but with no connection to the study. 

“As IT has become the backbone of many businesses, that backbone is key to the businesses operations, and in most cases revenue,” he added. “That means it’s key to the business’s survival. IT teams now must be accessible 24 hours a day. In the face of a problem, they are expected to work 24 hours a day to resolve it. Not only must all of the backbone infrastructure work, but so must all the access nodes for human team members from mobile devices to work from home configurations.” 

QFunction’s Smith said IT workers need their bosses’ assurance and support in understanding and implementing new technologies.

“Management needs to understand that it will take time to come up to speed with newer technologies and that there will be growing pains along the way, especially with AI,” he added. “Formal training on newer technologies provided by the employer also goes a long way in showing support to IT workers.”

The Institute did consider these cultural aspects in its research. While it found no significant correlation between the provision of training and workers’ wellbeing, it did find a link with how workers are treated: “A human resource philosophy that emphasizes employee wellbeing over productivity has a positive correlation with quality of life,” the study said.