Keeping Calm Amidst the Pixels: Online Conferences Still Stressful for Many
Virtual meetings continue to be a source of anxiety for numerous individuals - Virtual meetings continue to induce stress for numerous individuals
Five years since virtual meetings took over thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, they're still a hotbed of stress for a substantial chunk of the population. A survey conducted by Logitech sheds light on this, revealing that the stress levels fluctuate depending on the attendees. A whopping 27% of participants reported a stress level of 7 or higher when preparing for an online meeting with external parties, such as clients or superiors. Compare that to 21% for a meeting with colleagues. This survey targeted computer-centric workers.
However, women appear to be the hardest hit - they report stress levels higher than their masculine counterparts in all scenarios. In conversations with external parties, for instance, 33% of female participants compared to 22% of males reported extreme stress levels. Age seems to be a factor as well - on the contrary to stereotypes, middle-aged employees emerge as the most stressed, while younger and older workers tend to be less tense.
Despite the stress, the majority of participants weren't averse to online meetings. Interestingly, women and middle-aged individuals showed a preference for virtual meetings - the same groups feeling the stress. One possible reason for the anxiety could be concern over technical glitches during the meeting. Around 29% of participants reported experiencing such issues, with 14% saying they frequently encounter tech problems during online meetings and 12% occasionally skipping or canceling virtual meetings due to fear of technical glitches. However, roughly two-thirds of respondents expressed confidence in their readiness for virtual meetings, whether they worked from home or in the office.
According to Serkan Ates of Logitech, "Reliable meeting technology is a competitive edge." Companies offering reliable tools to their employees help alleviate frustration, boost performance, and enhance job satisfaction. Logitech commissioned YouGov to conduct the survey, which surveyed around 2,110 computer-focused workers in April.
- COVID-19
- Video Conference
- Logitech
- Computer
- Online Meetings
Further Insights:
The survey results show patterns that align with broader research on digital workplace stress. Women often grapple with unique pressures related to balancing professional and domestic roles in remote work environments. Middle-aged employees may struggle with adapting to new technologies and managing compounded workloads, which further escalates stress during video calls. These findings underscore the intricate blend of social, professional, and technological factors that disproportionately affect women and middle-aged staff during online meetings compared to men and younger employees.
- The stress levels in online meetings, as revealed by Logitech's survey, fluctuate among attendees, with a significant 27% indicating a high stress level when preparing for meetings with external parties.
- The survey results imply that stress during online meetings is particularly prevalent among women, as they report higher stress levels than men in all scenarios, such as conversations with external parties.
- Contrary to stereotypes, middle-aged employees emerge as the most stressed during online meetings, while younger and older workers tend to be less tense.
- Despite the stress, women and middle-aged individuals showed a preference for virtual meetings, possibly due to concerns over technical glitches during meetings.
- Logitech's survey, conducted by YouGov in April, targeted computer-centric workers and revealed that around 29% of participants had encountered technical issues in online meetings, with 14% experiencing problems frequently.
