Information overload and FOMO are major risk factors for remote work

While the shift to remote work has reportedly brought about numerous benefits for many people, such as increased flexibility and autonomy, a new study published in SAGE Open by researchers from the University of Nottingham claims to reveal significant downsides that are often overlooked.

The study, conducted by Elizabeth Marsh, Elvira Perez Vallejos, and Alexa Spence, focuses on the psychological impact of remote work, specifically how the fear of missing out (FOMO) and information overload can severely affect employees’ mental health and overall wellbeing.

The research delves into the “dark side” of digital workplaces, a term that encapsulates the negative consequences of the digitalization of work. These include stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and other mental health issues that arise from the demands of working in a technology-driven environment. The study surveyed 140 adults aged 25 to 44, most of whom were women, to explore how these issues manifest in the context of remote work.

Participants were asked to respond to statements measuring various stressors associated with digital work. These included overload (e.g., “I am overwhelmed by the amount of information I have to process on a daily basis”), digital anxiety (“I hesitate to use digital workplace applications for fear of making mistakes I cannot correct”), and FOMO (“When working in the digital workplace… I worry that I might miss important work-related updates”). The findings confirmed that all these digital workplace demands were positively correlated with workplace stress. However, the study highlighted that some factors, particularly information overload and FOMO, have a more profound impact on employees’ mental health.

Too much information

One of the most striking findings from the study is the detrimental effect of information overload on employees’ wellbeing. Information overload occurs when individuals are bombarded with more information than they can effectively process. This is a common issue in digital workplaces where employees are expected to manage emails, instant messages, social media updates, and various digital platforms simultaneously.

The study found that information overload not only increased stress levels in its subjects, but also leads to significant mental health challenges, including exhaustion and burnout. Employees who reported feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they had to manage were more likely to experience higher levels of stress and poorer overall wellbeing. This aligns with previous research indicating that information overload can impair cognitive function, reduce productivity, and contribute to mental fatigue.

Marsh and her colleagues emphasize that to help employees cope with information overload, organizations must prioritize optimizing information management. This involves streamlining communication channels, reducing the number of platforms employees must engage with, and ensuring that only essential information is disseminated. By doing so, organisations can help reduce the cognitive burden on employees and support their mental health.

Fear of missing out

The fear of missing out (FOMO) is another significant issue highlighted in the study. FOMO is a psychological phenomenon where individuals feel anxious about missing important events, updates, or opportunities. In the context of digital workplaces, FOMO can arise when employees worry that they might miss out on critical information or fall behind their colleagues if they are not constantly connected to digital platforms.

The study found that FOMO is a key risk factor for employee mental health. Employees who reported higher levels of FOMO were more likely to experience increased stress and exhaustion. This is particularly concerning given that the nature of digital work often requires employees to be constantly connected and responsive, which can exacerbate feelings of FOMO.

Marsh suggests that to mitigate the impact of FOMO, organizations should reconsider how much information employees are expected to consume. For instance, do employees need to check the intranet daily, be members of multiple Teams channels, and stay on top of group chats and emails while managing their regular workload? By streamlining information and setting clear boundaries on communication expectations, organizations can help reduce the anxiety associated with FOMO and improve employees’ overall wellbeing.

And … too little information

Interestingly, the study also touches on the concept of “information poverty,” which is the opposite of information overload. While some employees are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they receive, others may struggle with a lack of access to critical information. This can occur when employees are not included in important communication channels or do not have the necessary tools to stay informed.

The researchers suggest that information poverty could be just as detrimental as information overload, as it can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and disengagement. Employees who do not have access to the information they need may feel disconnected from their teams and less able to perform their jobs effectively. The study calls for further research into the psychological impact of information poverty and how organisations can address this issue.