The price of always-on connectivity in the modern workplace is becoming increasingly clear as burnout rates climb and productivity suffers, an Arab Times feature published this week has outlined. With digital devices enabling round-the-clock access, many professionals find it difficult to truly log off, leading to chronic stress and exhaustion. Gallup figures show that 76 percent of employees experience burnout at least sometimes, with 28 percent reporting it occurs very often or always.
Perceptyx research places the share of time office workers spend at their desks at 90 percent today, a sharp rise from 30 percent in the pre-digital era. This shift has blurred the boundaries between work and home life, contributing to reduced engagement and poorer work-life balance. The Arab Times report on the price of always-on notes how this culture has normalized the expectation of immediate responses regardless of the hour.
Burnout is costing employers between $3,999 and $20,683 per employee each year depending on the role, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The bulk of these expenses, 89 percent, stem from presenteeism where staff are present but operating below full capacity. Remote workers are particularly affected, with 61 percent reporting burnout compared to 55 percent of on-site employees, an Eagle Hill study found.
A review published by The Conversation described how an always-on culture can create a vicious cycle damaging both workers through exhaustion and employers through lower output. Family-supportive leadership that encourages disconnection has been shown to improve job satisfaction and performance while lowering burnout levels. However, implementing such changes requires a shift in organizational norms that often prioritize constant availability.
Global economic losses from low engagement linked to burnout stand at $8.8 trillion per year, or roughly 9 percent of GDP, Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report indicated. The WHO has estimated that depression and anxiety, frequently worsened by workplace stress, result in $1 trillion of lost productivity annually worldwide. These statistics underscore the scale of the issue as highlighted in local coverage including the Arab Times piece.
NAMI’s workplace mental health poll revealed that 52 percent of employees felt burned out in the past year because of their jobs. Among those reluctant to discuss mental health at work, 62 percent reported experiencing burnout. Younger employees between 18 and 29 years old were the most likely to consider leaving their positions due to mental health strains from work demands, with 34 percent in that demographic affected.
