Digital well-being of managers in the hybrid workplace

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This article aims to explore the issue of digital well-being as a resource for achieving overall well-being at work and to assist managers in coping with technological demands during the hybrid mode of work. It describes how managers organize their work using information and communication technologies (ICT). Efforts were also made to determine the patterns of technology usage in a hybrid work environment. The level of technology acceptance, perception, and managers’ attitudes towards technological changes were also considered. Design/methodology/approach This research employs a qualitative methodology, and the thematic exploration involves scrutinizing findings obtained from 20 in-depth interviews with managers (white-collar workers) employed in large organizations in Poland and is preceded by a literature review. Findings With the increasingly prevalent model of hybrid work, the number and frequency of ICT usage by managers are also on the rise. The findings enhance our understanding of how various behavioral patterns of interaction with information technology among managers shape concentration management, perceptions of technostress, work-life balance, managers’ regeneration practices, and contribute to their digital well-being. Practical implications The results indicate the need for organizations to be more mindful of promoting sustainable ICT usage by managers, which can lead to an increase in their digital well-being and prevent the cultivation of an “always-on” culture within the organization. This approach also enables managers to constructively handle the continually increasing technological demands and technostress. Originality/value This research significantly contributes to the literature by examining how the utilization of information and communication technologies impacts the digital well-being of managers in a hybrid work environment. Without digital well-being, managers may find it challenging to achieve overall well-being at work, which can, in the long run, result in decreased productivity.