Sustainable practices for using digital technology in informal workplace learning

The negative effects of digital technology and the continuously growing learning demands related to work can pose burdens on the workforce. In this article, we explore how these challenges are related to informal workplace learning. We build on the concept of sustainable learning, aiming to outline what sustainability means in the context of using digital technology in informal workplace learning. We used digital ethnography to study the use of digital technology in authentic knowledge work settings. Our ethnographic accounts describe how digital technology was used for informal workplace learning in the case organisation and give insights into its role in learning. The novelty of this study is that in addition to identifying the challenges related to using digital technology in informal learning, we focused on investigating strategies for managing and reducing these negative aspects. Digital technology introduced strains and increased learning demands, but the workplace developed practices to manage them. We propose that the sustainable use of digital technology in informal workplace learning balances the burdens and benefits of digital technology, ensuring quality of learning and staff wellbeing. This requires developed digital work practices and skills from employees, as well as managers.