Many feel guilt leaving work on time, perceiving it as a lack of effort due to a culture valuing visibility and responsiveness. Digital tools foster constant availability expectations, leading employees to internalize these norms. This creates a n...
Completing work on time does not give a sense of completion for many people, but instead evokes a sense of guilt, as if leaving on time indicates a lack of effort on their part. This stems from a work environment where visibility and responsiveness are key determinants of dedication to work. Leaving on time seems premature even after completing work, especially if other people are still on or available.
Digital communication tools extend work beyond official hours by increasing expectations of constant availability, as shown by research in the Journal of Applied Psychology by Derks et al. (2014). Employees who receive messages after work are more likely to respond, even when it is not required. Employees internalize these expectations through observation, a study in Human Relations by Mazmanian et al. (2013) found.
An implicit standard is created that influences behavior across teams when colleagues stay online late or respond quickly. The psychological impact of this pattern is also very significant. Detaching from work is essential for recovery and sustained performance, as highlighted by Sonnentag and Fritz (2015) in their research on occupational health science. Employees tend to experience higher stress levels and long-term fatigue without proper detachment. The inability to disconnect is often not driven by workload alone, but by perceived expectations around availability.
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A new criterion for judging work is created as a result. Being present is seen as a badge of commitment, even if it doesn’t actually contribute to productivity. Employees start to value being responsive over being productive and log in not to accomplish anything important but to prove that they are committed to work. This eventually leads to a culture of working longer hours and a blurring of work and personal time. The guilt of not being online is not a personal problem but a product of a work culture where being online equates to being important and being online by a certain time is akin to being unimportant.
