How Microsoft Aims To Prevent Digital Overload for Hybrid Workers

Microsoft is one of the latest companies to recognize the digital overload problem workers face. With the rise of remote work and the always-on culture, it's more important than ever for companies to find ways to prevent employees from becoming overwhelmed with digital information. Companies have an unlikely ally for this goal: one of the world's top five tech giants.

What Is Digital Overload?

Before tackling how Microsoft has addressed the digital overload problem, it's a good idea to understand what it is and how it affects workers. Digital overload occurs when people become overwhelmed by digital information and accessibility. These are some of the main contributing factors:

• Too many emails or an overflowing inbox
• Constant instant messaging and social media notifications
• A never-ending to-do list
• Ongoing team and project updates
• 24/7 accessibility from workers

Why Should Employee Burnout Matter at Work?

Unfortunately, managers often treat workers like replaceable machines. If one stops performing, the manager can hire a replacement. This can lead to high turnover rates, negatively impacting confidentiality and continuity. Today's high resignation rates and labor shortages can also create severe financial strains.

Here are some additional reasons companies should invest in preventing worker burnout:

• Satisfied employees are more productive.
• Happy employees build social relationships, which improves their likelihood of remaining with the company.
• When companies invest in their employees, the employees are more likely to invest in the company.
• New age workers have made work-life balance an indispensable work benefit.

What Is Microsoft's Plan To Prevent Digital Overload?

Over the past few years, Microsoft has expanded its product offerings to make it easier for people to work from anywhere. While this has improved business agility, it can also become difficult for employees to set boundaries and clock out. The company has implemented a few different strategies to address this.

Research

Microsoft does more than research how its tools improve business efficiency. It also reviews and studies the effects of its technology on workers' everyday lives. One of its findings is that, compared to pre-pandemic numbers, 53% more workers will prioritize their well-being over their jobs.

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Focused Inbox

This feature separates an inbox into two tabs: one for the most important emails and another for the rest. It helps employees focus on the most critical tasks first and, hopefully, reduces the digital clutter in their inboxes.

Clutter

Clutter is an email filtering feature that moves lower priority messages out of the way so workers can focus on more pressing matters. It learns what the individual ignores and stops sending those emails to his or her inbox altogether, thereby reducing digital overload.

Do Not Disturb Mode

DND is a new feature in Microsoft Teams that allows people to set specific times when they do not want to be disturbed by notifications. They can also customize it so that only certain people can reach them during those times.

DND can be set for a period of time, as shown in the screenshot, or it can be set to turned off at a particular time/date.

Virtual Commute

The digital world made it possible for people to work from anywhere, but the commute played a crucial role in their work schedules. The virtual commute helps ramp people up for work and then helps to wind them down for their time off. This, in turn, boosts productivity during work hours.

Limeade

Limeade is an employee wellness platform that helps workers manage stress, stay active and eat healthily. It also has a digital detox feature that allows employees to disconnect from work-related notifications after hours.

MyAnalytics

MyAnalytics is a productivity tool that gives employees insights into how they're spending their time. It also provides tips on how to manage time and schedule better. A daily summary makes it easier to track upcoming activities and complete adequate planning.

How Can Cloud Migration Services Reduce Digital Overload?

While Microsoft's solutions are not perfect, they are a step in the right direction to help workers find a balance between their professional and personal lives. Creating this boundary makes it easier to tackle digital overload.

However, it's also worth noting that most of these spectacular Microsoft features require Microsoft Office 365. Consequently, a business might need to migrate to the cloud to leverage the best tools for combatting overload.

However, companies should avoid becoming too reliant on tech companies to solve the problems that the overuse of technology creates. Allowing workers to unplug is also healthy and should become part of the management policy for hybrid, remote and in-office workers.

Why Should You Choose Cloudficient's Migration Services?

Our cloud migration services make it possible to access Microsoft 365 so that employees can work from anywhere. We also make it easy for businesses to access Microsoft's cloud-based tools that fight digital overload. Our team accomplishes this with little to no disruption of operations. Contact us to get started.

With unmatched next generation migration technology, Cloudficient is revolutionizing the way businesses retire legacy systems and transform their organization into the cloud. Our business constantly remains focused on client needs and creating product offerings that match them. We provide affordable services that are scalable, fast and seamless.

If you would like to learn more about how to bring Cloudficiency to your migration project, visit our website, or contact us.