Always on Mentality: The Effects of Workplace Telepressure on Health and Motivation of the Dutch Young Workforce Examining the Moderating Role of Workplace FoMO and Social Comparison Orientation

Abstract

The present study examines the effects of workplace telepressure on the young workforces’ health and motivation, taking workplace FoMO and Social Comparison Orientation into account as moderators. We predicted that workplace telepressure was positively related to burnout, and that workplace FoMO and SCO would strengthen this association. The associations with work engagement were explored. A sample of 133 employed young adults was surveyed. Results indicated that (a) two new items could be included in the workplace FoMO measure, yielding two reliable dimensions called fear of opportunity- and fear of informational exclusion, (b) workplace telepressure was not associated with burnout and work engagement, (c) workplace FoMO and SCO did not moderate these relationships, (d) workplace FoMO and SCO were significantly and positively related to burnout, (e) workplace FoMO mediated the association between SCO and burnout. Overall, workplace FoMO and SCO appeared to be more relevant indicators of well-being at work than workplace telepressure. Alternative explanations for unexpected results are discussed, as are suggestions for future research. All in all, results suggest that employees high on workplace FoMO and SCO are vulnerable to experience burnout, of which organizations and employees should be aware.