Manager digital overload hampers productivity, study finds

A recent analysis highlights how managers are overwhelmed by digital communication, receiving an average of 117 emails and 153 Teams messages each workday. After‑hours meetings have risen 16 % over the past year, with many starting after 20:00, extending the workday and increasing reliance on a single leader for decision‑making.

The Eurofound survey shows that eight out of ten employees regularly receive work messages outside normal hours, and nine out of ten respond to at least some of them. Formal “right‑to‑disconnect” rules alone do not change behavior; effective change requires manager training, workload controls, and real limits on after‑hours contact. Companies with such policies reported 92 % positive work‑life balance ratings versus 80 % in firms without them.