The Culture of Overwork: Why You Should Give Your Employees Time Off Slack

In today's interconnected world, the culture of overwork has become an unintentional by-product of many hybrid workplaces. 

It’s been caused by the pressure to be online all of the time, with employees’ Slack or IM status the only indication to managers that they’re ‘at’ work. 

Over 76% of people have Slack on their phones, indicating that most employees feel the need to be readily available to jump on a call, respond to emails and be constantly connected through messaging apps.

While there’s no doubting the importance of tech, particularly when your team is divided between home and the office, it’s important to be aware of the risks of over-communicating.

If you’re a hybrid workplace trying to strike a balance, you can use this guide to understand why and how to make sure your employees take a step back.

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The Culture of Overwork

Once upon a time, overwork was seen as a badge of honor in many workplaces, with employees competing to see who can work the longest hours or respond to emails the fastest.

Linkedin was all about the #hustle and #grind, and sleep was for the weak. 

The obvious problem with this culture is that it places a high value on being constantly busy and productive, often at the expense of one's health and well-being. 

From the outside, overworking is supposed to be a sign of resilience. In reality, employees who work long hours or are constantly connected to their work devices are more likely to experience stress, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction. 

The result is quiet, or even not-so-quiet, quitting, as employees become burnt out and no longer feel energized by their day-to-day.

Thankfully, the culture of 24/7 hustling is no longer as aspirational as it once was. However, in its place is a more subtle form of overwork; being constantly available, thanks to instant messaging apps.

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The Concerns of Excessive Slack Usage

Slack, a messaging app designed for workplaces, has become an essential tool for communication and collaboration in many organizations.

There’s no doubt that it’s a valuable tool for keeping teams connected and productive. In fact, its range of integrations and additional apps make it a hub for all sorts of business-related activities, from rewards to workspace management.

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However, excessive Slack usage can lead to several problems: 

• It’s a constant distraction
  In a study by Zapier, it was found that 90% of employees spend up to five hours per day on messaging apps like Slack.
  
  No matter what the subject matter is, pausing your work to engage in a conversation or reply to a message to something that could be unrelated takes valuable time. It takes almost 25 minutes to return to your original task after deviating, and yet most of us can’t ignore the notification sound when it goes off.

• It contributes to presenteeism
  Presenteeism is when employees feel the need to be constantly available and responsive. For those not in the office, it can be interpreted as a way to combat proximity bias and ensure managers know they are online and working.
  
  The risk of this is the impact on employees’ work-life balance, as they feel pressure to be connected to work even during their personal time.
  
• It blurs the line between work and personal life
  For hybrid workplaces, the distinction between home and the office is already more difficult than in a traditional workplace. 
  
  With most instant messaging apps having a mobile phone version, employees now have constant access to their work conversations, making it harder than ever to switch off at the end of the day.

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Tips for Giving Your Employees Time Off Slack

It’s simple: to combat the dangers of overwork and excessive Slack usage, employees need to have the freedom to not be constantly accessible. 

For employees themselves, it’s easier said than done. Taking time off Slack can be challenging, especially if your workplace has a culture of constant communication and presenteeism. 

However, there are several tips and strategies that businesses can use to encourage disconnect from work and establish healthy boundaries.

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#1 Establish Clear Guidelines

Set clear guidelines and expectations for Slack usage to avoid confusion or uncertainty.

You could ask employees to have core online hours or ask them to have another, less distracting form of communication available. 

You can also create your own schedule and let employees know when you expect them to be accessible. Or encourage employees to use Slack’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature, so managers can be aware of who is and isn’t online while employees can avoid being distracted.

Whatever you choose, by setting some kind of expectations, businesses can reduce the pressure to be constantly connected to work.

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#2 Encourage In-Person Interactions

As a hybrid workplace, it’s your responsibility to provide opportunities for in-person interactions, such as team-building events or office socials. 

This will help foster a sense of community and connection among employees and reduce the reliance on messaging apps for communication.

Over 90% of employees want to go into the office at least one day per week. Seeing other people to socialize and collaborate with in person allows employees to switch off instant messaging.

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#3 Promote Self-Care 

Encourage employees to prioritize their well-being and practice self-care. A simple way to initiate this is by discussing the importance of taking breaks during the working day.

Working from home means there are no water cooler chats or catching up in the kitchen with your colleagues, so it’s vital that workplaces ensure their employees are not sitting at their desks for the entirety of the work day. 

Promote healthy habits such as lunchtime walks, coffee breaks, and meditation to minimize the impact of constant communication.

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#4 Lead by Example

As a leader, it is essential to set the tone for messaging app usage. 

Employees will follow the lead if, as a business, you encourage everyone to reduce their availability and take breaks from Slack regularly.

Brief department heads or team leads on why it’s important to set an example. Not only will it reduce their time on Slack, it will also set a norm for what is expected as a workplace no matter your seniority level.

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#5 Give Employees Real Breaks

You can provide employees with as many guidelines as you like, however, the number one way to encourage your team to disconnect, is to provide them with ample opportunity to.

Provide employees with enough time off that they can switch off and reset. Encourage vacation days, mental health days, and ensure your culture doesn’t encourage working when sick.

This can also be implemented with flexible working policies, giving employees the power to work flexibly around core hours. When flexible working is implemented, employees know that being online constantly isn’t a must, as they may be organizing their day around other factors.

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A Successful Hybrid Workplace Does Not Rely on 24/7 Slack Availability

While messaging apps like Slack are essential tools for communication and collaboration, excessive usage can have the opposite effect.

It’s the responsibility of employers to create a supportive environment that encourages employees to switch off.

No matter what your hybrid model looks like, in the end, a successful hybrid workplace is one that recognizes the importance of disconnecting from work and prioritizing personal time, leading to a more satisfied and fulfilled workforce.

If you’re looking for more tips on how to successfully run your hybrid workplace, our guide to hybrid work is a great place to start.