LETTERS: The allure of a messaging app like WhatsApp's user-friendly features has led many organisations to adopt it as their communication platform of choice.
The app has revolutionised workplace interactions, redefining how colleagues engage, collaborate and exchange information.
Initially used as a casual conversation tool, WhatsApp quickly found a place in organisations, expediting the flow of information among co-workers. This assimilation into the professional realm has unearthed unforeseen challenges.
My research has found that the ease of instant communication has unintentionally eroded the boundaries separating professional commitments from personal lives.
The pervasive accessibility of the app, operating around the clock, intrudes upon employees' time, disturbing the delicate balance between professional responsibilities and personal wellbeing.
WhatsApp's features, while fostering immediate responses and collaborations, inadvertently impose pressure on employees.
The visibility of one's "online" status and the expectation for prompt replies often induce an implicit obligation to be constantly available.
This perpetual connectivity, even beyond designated work hours, generates stress and hampers work-life equilibrium.
Navigating the complexities arising from WhatsApp's integration into the professional domain necessitates a balanced approach.
Organisations are confronted with the imperative task of formulating comprehensive guidelines to regulate their usage effectively.
Such guidelines could delineate the norms for communication within working hours, acknowledging the importance of uninterrupted personal time.
They may outline expectations regarding response times, encouraging a culture that respects employees' boundaries and ensuring effective collaboration during designated work hours.
By fostering a culture that respects personal time and delineates clear boundaries for work-related communication, organisations can harness the advantages of WhatsApp and mitigate its adverse effects. The goal is to create an environment where productivity thrives without compromising the holistic wellbeing of employees.
DR SYAZWANI AHMAD
Senior lecturer, Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times