Burnout Among Crisis versus Routine Remote Workers: Technology Use, Job Demands and Resources, and Affordances

This research compares communication technology (CT) use, job demands/resources, and burnout between remote workers in crisis and routine (non-crisis) contexts. Findings indicate that remote workers rely on CTs less frequently in routine contexts. Remote worker burnout levels were consistent across crisis and routine workers, but job demand and resource levels differed; compared to crisis remote workers, routine remote workers perceived higher role clarity, less work overload, and less coworker support. While no CT is significantly related to work overload or role clarity among routine remote workers, instant messaging (IM) is positively related to coworker support. IM also significantly related to lower burnout via coworker support. We relate findings to the affordance framework, demonstrating how remote workers have made sense of CTs and work processes.