Tech stress for third of Yorkshire's workers

A lack of tech reliability was cited as the main reason for this by 53 per cent of survey respondents, followed by a heightening of workload (46 per cent).

Other effects for regional workers included a triggering of tighter deadlines (34 per cent), a lack of human interaction (33 per cent) and excessive levels of complexity (18 per cent).

“Technology can be a considerable force for good with the potential to act as a catalyst for smarter, more efficient and more flexible working,” said Mike Blake, wellbeing lead at Willis Towers Watson.

“Despite offering a wealth of opportunities to improve our working lives, however – simplifying and, in some cases, eradicating many mundane or laborious tasks – these findings highlight that, in some cases, it can be both a blessing and a curse."

“The drive to introduce new technology is inevitable as businesses search for more efficient ways of working, but these findings should act as a call to action to ensure it is adopted strategically, and deployed with appropriate levels of support, training and consideration to the mental wellbeing of users.

“As part of this process, consultation with staff about the tools and technologies that they need to carry out their jobs more confidently and effectively may prove beneficial in helping smooth the transition to new, improved, ways of working.”

Encouragingly, more than a quarter (28 per cent) of Yorkshire and the Humber workers have tackled the tech stress burden by asking for support or training from management, while 22 per cent have consulted colleagues who the requisite know-how.

Twenty-six per cent, however, said they coped by working longer hours, 16 per cent delegated tech-based tasks to colleagues and a further 12 per cent have avoided or delayed tech-based tasks.

Just one in ten (nine per cent) of Yorkshire and the Humber workers said technology decreased their workplace stress, with 60 per cent of these respondents saying it enables them to work more efficiently.