Virtual work leading to ‘Zoom fatigue’

Nova Scotia company Virtira Consulting says a survey it conducted reveals about half of professionals experience fatigue and anxiety about online meetings.

It included insights from more than 1,700 managers and employees, according to Virtira, specifically addressing company policies regarding the use of video during online meetings and the effect on employee well-being.

In a news release Thursday, Virtira, which describes itself as “focused on increasing remote productivity for companies,” stated that its report suggests that meeting online has a negative effect on employees “as they navigate excessive time in front of webcams in an effort to continue business as usual during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Nearly half of professionals working remotely (49 per cent) reported a high degree of exhaustion as a direct result of numerous daily video calls. Referred to as “Zoom fatigue,” the exhaustion stems from a combination of increased meetings and the pressure to have webcams on for all of them, according to a news release.

Virtira CEO Cynthia Watson was quoted in the release: “In my conversations with business leaders throughout the pandemic, the majority said engaging with employees on webcams has increased engagement and productivity. Unfortunately, our study indicates the opposite.”

Watson suggested that understanding how permanent policies regarding remote work may affect employee morale, mental health and productivity is critical.

The study found that 63 per cent of remote workers are participating in more meetings online than they would have in the office, with 30 per cent spending two to three hours daily meeting on camera. The increased time in front of webcams has been compounded by well-meaning employers attempting to raise morale by hosting online happy hours, pizza parties and more, thereby adding to “Zoom time.”

Other key findings:

61 per cent of respondents reported that all meetings they attend are conducted on video

65 per cent indicated that being on video is best for team engagement, but only 11 per cent of their video meetings are being used for that purpose

More than 25 per cent feel peer pressure to have their cameras on, even if not required

58 per cent of self-identified introverts and 40 per cent of extroverts reported on-camera exhaustion

REUTERS A study has found that 63 per cent of remote workers are participating in more meetings online than they would have in the office, with 30 per cent spending two to three hours daily meeting on camera.