• Workaholism/Don’t know how to cut.
• Constantly checking mobile notifications.
• A corporate culture that demands to be always available.

Are these situations familiar to you? Paradoxically, being more connected does not necessarily mean being better connected.

Digital technologies have transformed people’s lives in all existing dimensions, contributing to an improvement in their well-being. The concept of well-being, however, is subjective and is influenced by other variables. OECD reports indicate that people with Internet access perceive a higher quality of life than those without it, but the same organization recognizes that the ability to access the Internet is also linked to socioeconomic aspects. Digitalization can contribute to universalizing and improving the quality of services that are crucial to personal well-being, such as education, employability and privacy. In other words, it is not access but the use of digital services that can result in an improvement in the quality of life perceived by citizens.

It is not the access but the use of digital services that can result in an improvement in the quality of life perceived by citizens.

 

In this context, the digital economy and industry sector, more than any other, must promote a rational and responsible use of technology. Javier Miranda, Head of Talent and Employment at DigitalES, explains how to reconcile rest and digital opportunities:

«In general, techno-addiction is a cultural issue, whether it is a personal issue (self-demand) and/or that of the company in which one works. Therefore, the focus to solve possible abuses should not be raised on the technology itself, or through organizational policies of bread for all, but through a 21st century leadership, which integrates planning, fluid internal communication and, above all, a lot of common sense».

What about telework environments?

«Generally speaking, labor flexibility – and teleworking, as part of it – is a component that helps companies improve their processes and business results. To achieve this, however, it is necessary to redefine the role of the offices and review the corporate culture, among other aspects. No working model can work without proper planning and leadership».

How important is it for talent retention to know how to respect employees’ right to disengage?

«It’s always important, and particularly for attracting and retaining young talent. The generational clash in the workplace has been tremendous. The way in which younger generations are explicitly requesting work-life balance is still striking to many.

Of course, any black or white view of reality accepts nuances, but, at the end of the day, it’s all about applying what we all know: a happy employee is a more productive employee. In this context, organizational cultures are progressively being shaped and enriched by the diversity of their talent».

Any final tricks to effectively disconnect from work?

«It is very useful to remove push notifications from email, to avoid the temptation to check messages that may be arriving constantly.»