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Digging into “Zoom Fatigue”: A Qualitative Exploration of Remote Work Challenges and Virtual Meeting Stressors

Author

Listed:
  • Svea Luebstorf

    (Department of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Joseph A. Allen

    (Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

  • Emilee Eden

    (Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

  • William S. Kramer

    (Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE 68182, USA)

  • Roni Reiter-Palmon

    (Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE 68182, USA)

  • Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock

    (Department of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Purpose: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees suddenly had to work remotely and realize all work-related social interaction in virtual formats. The sudden shift to the virtual format came with new workplace stressors. To understand the stressors of remote work and videoconferences, we present two qualitative studies. The aim of this study is to better understand the stress associated with remote work and videoconferencing, with an emphasis on how workers cope with the added stress. Methodology: We applied thematic analysis to open-ended survey data from employees in the US ( n = 349) and in-depth telephone interviews of 50 meeting leaders from the US and Germany. Findings: We identified the work–home interface, technology, and communication issues as key challenges of remote work. Further, we found camera usage, early meeting phases, and multitasking to be central stressors of videoconferences. Finally, we identified individual- and team-level coping strategies to reduce the impacts of virtual meeting stressors on employees. Originality: Our research contributes to the emerging field studying the effects of virtual work and videoconferences on employees. We provide an overview of the challenges of remote work at the early stages of the pandemic, and we present an overview of the stressors that emerge in virtual meeting environments. We discuss insights into why videoconferences may fatigue employees. Including German and US samples, our research allows a cross-cultural comparison of videoconferencing stressors. Finally, we present actionable practical recommendations to improve videoconferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Svea Luebstorf & Joseph A. Allen & Emilee Eden & William S. Kramer & Roni Reiter-Palmon & Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock, 2023. "Digging into “Zoom Fatigue”: A Qualitative Exploration of Remote Work Challenges and Virtual Meeting Stressors," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-16, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jmerit:v:3:y:2023:i:1:p:10-166:d:1068882
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chris T. Cartwright & Maura Harrington & Sarah Smith Orr & Tessa Sutton, 2023. "Women’s Leadership and COVID-19 Pandemic: Navigating Crises through the Application of Connective Leadership," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Vanessa Begemann & Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock & Maie Stein, 2023. "Peeling Away the Layers of Workplace Gossip: A Framework, Review, and Future Research Agenda to Study Workplace Gossip as a Dynamic and Complex Behavior," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Mengxiao Zhu & Chunke Su & Jiangang Hao & Lei Liu & Patrick Kyllonen & Alina von Davier, 2024. "Who benefits from virtual collaboration? The interplay of team member expertness and Big Five personality traits," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.

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