ChatGPT said:Many UK employees are putting their health at risk by checking work emails outside of office hours, according to new research. The study of more than 1,200 workers found that this “always on” culture is linked to poorer physical and psychological health, although it does not appear to impact productivity.
Researchers examined email habits, workplace norms and health indicators among full-time employees across a range of industries. They found that more than half of participants accessed work emails on their personal mobile phones and almost two-thirds checked them while on annual leave. For some, this constant connectivity was driven by company culture. Almost a quarter of workers said they felt expected to respond to emails during their free time, and over a third reported that their line managers regularly emailed them outside normal working hours.
The findings, published in Psychreg Journal of Psychology, show a clear association between email engagement in personal time and reduced well-being. Employees who placed high importance on email for their work, or who felt overloaded by messages, were significantly more likely to check and respond to emails during evenings, weekends or holidays. This behaviour was linked with increased reports of stress-related physical symptoms and poorer mental health scores. Women, in particular, reported worse physical and psychological health than men.
While productivity levels were not directly affected by out-of-hours email activity, the study highlights a troubling pattern. Workers who felt overloaded by email were more likely to experience presenteeism (turning up to work but performing below their best) and to rate their productivity lower. The research suggests that email overload itself may be more damaging to performance than the simple act of checking messages after hours.
Age and seniority also played a role. Older employees and those in higher-ranking positions were more likely to engage with work emails outside standard hours. This may reflect greater responsibility, but it also raises concerns about the pressures faced by senior staff and the example set for junior colleagues.
Experts warn that the blurring of work and home life has accelerated since the pandemic, with remote and hybrid working making it easier (and often expected) to stay connected. The researchers note that some companies and even national governments have tried to tackle the issue by introducing “right to disconnect” policies, such as restricting after-hours email access. But many workplaces still lack clear guidance on healthy digital communication practices.
The study’s authors suggest that while company-wide policies could help protect workers’ downtime, one-size-fits-all solutions may not work. Some individuals feel more in control when they can manage their inbox during their own time, while others find it impossible to switch off. Understanding these differences will be key to designing effective interventions.
The findings add weight to calls for employers to take the health risks of constant connectivity seriously. Encouraging boundaries between work and personal time could support employee well-being without harming performance; and may even improve it in the long run.