title: The practical paradox of technology: The influence of communication technology use on employee burnout and engagement.
abstract: Technological advancements in the workplace frequently have produced contradictory effects by facilitating accessibility and efficiency while increasing interruptions and unpredictability. We combine insights from organizational paradoxes and the job demands-resources model to construct a framework identifying positive and negative mechanisms in the relationship between communication technology use (CTU) and employee well-being, operationalized as work engagement and burnout. In this study of Dutch workers, we demonstrate that CTU increases well-being through positive pathways (accessibility and efficiency) and decreases well-being through negative pathways (interruptions and unpredictability). We highlight the importance of (1) investigating CTU resources and demands simultaneously to grasp the relationship between CTU and employee well-being, and (2) considering CTU's downsides to successfully implement new communication technologies and flexible work designs.
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam School of Communication Research ASCoR, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Claartje L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ter Hoeven
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam School of Communication Research ASCoR, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ward
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Zoonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee , WI , USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Fonner
keywords: Technology; burnout; engagement; job demands; job resources; paradox