The Silent Struggle: Uncovering Digital Stress in Hybrid Work

This study investigates the phenomenon of digital stress among administrative staff engaged in hybrid work at a Scandinavian university in the post-pandemic era. Following COVID-19, organizations have incorporated hybrid work models that offer employees flexibility in their work environments. While this transformation presents opportunities for enhanced productivity and comfort, it simultaneously introduces challenges, including communication difficulties, employee isolation, and blurred boundaries between work and leisure. Digital stress has emerged as a significant concern affecting both individual well-being and organizational effectiveness. Empirical research examining digital stress in educational institutions remains limited. This study addresses how digital stress manifests in hybrid workplace settings and investigates perceptions of digital stress among management and employees. By examining the stressors that university administrative staff face, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of digital stress in organizational contexts and introduces the concept of 'the silent struggle' to shed light on such experiences. Keywords: Digital stress, hybrid workplace, stressors, administrative staff, wellbeing