Why Video Calls Got Your Stress Levels Soaring? It's Not Just You.
Virtual gatherings continue to induce stress for numerous individuals - Remote meetings continue to cause distress for numerous individuals
According to five years post the popularization of video conferences by the COVID-19 pandemic, it's still a significant source of stress for many folks. A survey by Logitech confirms this, as participants reported stress levels of 7 or higher fifteen minutes before meetings with external parties, like customers or superiors, at a rate of 27%. This was significantly less for meetings with colleagues, at 21%.
The survey, conducted among individuals primarily working on computers, also reveals that stress levels are affected by gender. Women reported higher stress levels than men in all scenarios, with the largest difference being in conversations with external parties, with 33% of women and 22% of men reporting high stress levels.
Age seems to play a significant role, too. Contrary to stereotypes, middle-aged workers were found to be the most stressed out, while younger and older workers reported lower stress levels.
Interestingly, despite reporting higher stress levels, women and middle-aged individuals slightly prefer virtual meetings, choosing them over physical ones, or hybrid meetings.
Technical issues may be causing the stress. Approximately 29% of respondents reported experiencing technical problems during meetings and 14% reported regularly encountering such issues. Fear of technical problems is so strong that 12% of respondents avoid or cancel online meetings altogether. However, around two-thirds of respondents reported being well-equipped for virtual meetings, with no significant difference between office and home settings.
Serkan Ates of Logitech states, "Reliable meeting technology is a competitive advantage. Companies that offer such tools to their employees reduce frustration, increase performance, and satisfaction." Logitech conducted the survey through YouGov in April, including approximately 2,110 participants.
However, it's not just technical issues or meetings with external parties that can cause stress. Other potential stress triggers include poor setup, communication difficulties, time zone differences, and social isolation. By understanding these factors, we can strive to make our virtual meetings more productive and less stressful.
- COVID-19
- Video Conference
- Logitech
- Computer
- Stress
- Work
- Online Meetings
- The employment policy within the community should prioritize investing in reliable meeting technology to reduce stress levels for employees, as revealed by a Logitech survey conducted on individuals working on computers, especially during video conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In the business world heavily reliant on technology, a proactive finance strategy could include allocating resources towards ensuring seamless online meetings - a crucial factor impacting employee stress levels, as per the survey conducted by Logitech.
