UK workers want digital downtime for more productivity, Twilio Finds

Over a third of UK employees (36%) want scheduled “digital silence” during work hours, as constant emails, notifications, and the pressure to stay online are reported to be harming productivity, according to Twilio. 

The study, carried out with YouGov and surveying more than 1,200 UK workers aged 18 and over, pointed to a need for balance where digital tools enhance productivity rather than distract from it.

Among its findings was  that nearly half (47%) of employees now placed greater importance on having protected time to work without distractions, indicating a desire for mandatory digital downtime.

Further, almost 44% of workers said they would be more likely to stay with or join a company that provides regular digital downtime, with interest for this benefit peaking among 36–40 year olds at 52%.

Twilio is a US based cloud communications company that offers both a Customer Engagement Platform (CEP) and a Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS). Its tools let developers add features such as SMS, voice, video, email, and authentication to their applications through APIs.

 

The Pressure of Constant Connectivity

The study also  indicated that despite tools, such as messaging apps and video conferencing, improving collaboration, they have instigated a change in how employees work and communicate.

Findings pointed to nearly two in five workers (38%) reporting feeling pressured to remain online and respond instantly to emails and messages during work hours. 

This pressure was found highest among employees early in their careers at 47% of those aged 26–30, and among mid-career workers, with 46% of those aged 41–45 reporting it.

Notifications were also found to be disrupting focus as 40% of employees reported that email and chat alerts interrupt their ability to complete tasks, a number that peaks at 50% among workers aged 51–55.

Preferred Times to Disconnect

The study pointed to variations in the days suggested for said digital downtime, pointing to trends related to career stage, family responsibilities, and personal commitments influencing the appeal of downtime.

For 44% of workers, Friday was pointed to as the most appealing day for when digital silence would help, marked  for finishing tasks before the weekend. 

The weekend itself was also sought after by 38% of workers who preferred Saturday and 42% who preferred Sunday to block notification overflows during protected time. 

At a lesser 29%, Monday was also selected by workers indicating the desire to begin the week with focus.

Highlighting the generational differences in obligations and priorities, the study pointed to just 21% of workers aged 18–25 reporting a need for ‘digital silence,’ while the figure climbed to 44% for those aged 46–50. 

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