Determinants and Consequences of After-Hours Work-Related Communication: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Developments in information and communication technologies have facilitated work-related communication with managers and colleagues independent of time and location. However, engaging in such communication beyond regular working hours often blurs the boundaries between professional and personal life, resulting in continuous mental engagement with work. This phenomenon disrupts recovery processes and frequently leads to negative outcomes such as stress, fatigue, and reduced job satisfaction. On the other hand, some studies emphasize the potential advantages of spatial flexibility, suggesting after-hours work-related communication enables employees to manage personal responsibilities. To explore these dynamics, a systematic review was conducted to identify the conditions under which after-hours work communication leads to positive or negative outcomes for employees. Through an analysis of 31 empirical studies following PRISMA protocol, findings indicate that after-hours work-related communication frequently results in adverse effects, including stress, anxiety, fatigue, diminished job satisfaction, and work-family conflict. However, findings also show that after-hours work-related communication has the potential to enhance employee innovativeness and increase work-life flexibility in specific contexts. This review offers critical insights for managers, employees, human resource professionals, and researchers, serving as a guide to effectively manage after-hours work-related communication while reducing its negative implications.

Keywords

• After-hours work-related communication
• after-hours work connectivity
• information and communication Technologies
• extended availability
• work-life conflict

Mesai Saatleri Dışı İşle İlgili İletişimin Belirleyicileri ve Sonuçları: Bir Sistematik Derleme

Öz

Bilgi ve iletişim teknolojilerinde yaşanan gelişmeler, çalışanların zaman ve mekândan bağımsız bir şekilde yöneticiler ve iş arkadaşlarıyla işle ilgili iletişime geçebilmesini sağlamıştır. Ancak bu iletişim süreçlerinin rutin mesai saatleri dışında gerçekleşmesi, çeşitli iş taleplerinin bireysel özel alana taşmasına yol açarak çalışanlarda zihinsel olarak sürekli işe bağlı kalmaya, iş sonrası yenilenmeyi engelleyerek stres ve yorgunluk gibi olumsuz sonuçlara yol açabilmektedir. Diğer yandan mesai saatleri dışında telekomünikasyon araçlarıyla işle ilgili iletişim olanaklarının bulunmasının sağladığı mekânsal özgürlüğün, özel yaşam taleplerini daha iyi yönetmeyi sağladığına yönelik görüşler de bulunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda hangi durumlarda mesai dışı işle ilgili iletişimin olumlu veya olumsuz çalışan çıktılarına yol açtığını anlayabilmek ve bu konudaki araştırmaların mevcut durumunu belirleyebilmek amacıyla bir sistematik derleme yapılmıştır. PRISMA protokolü çerçevesinde çalışmaya dahil edilen 31 görgül makalenin incelenmesi sonucunda mesai saatleri dışında işle ilgili iletişimin stres, kaygı, yorgunluk, düşük iş tatmini, iş ve aile çatışması gibi olumsuzluklara yol açabildiği belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca mesai saatleri dışı işle ilgili iletişimin çalışan yenilikçiliğini arttırabileceği ve iş-özel yaşam esnekliği sağlayabileceğine yönelik bulgular da mevcuttur. Bu derleme, yöneticiler, çalışanlar, insan kaynakları uzmanları ve araştırmacılar için mesai saatleri dışında işle ilgili iletişimi etkili bir şekilde yönetmeye ve bu iletişim türünün olumsuz etkilerini azaltmaya yönelik önemli bilgiler sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mesai saatleri dışı işle ilgili iletişim
• mesai sonrası bağlantı
• bilgi ve iletişim teknolojileri
• uzatılmış erişilebilirlik
• iş yaşam çatışması

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