Redirecting attention to a mobile phone rather than a partner strains the relationship. It impacts women’s creativity in the workplace, as cautioned by researchers from the Universities of Bath, Aston, and IESE Business School.

Their study illuminates the negative consequences of ‘phubbing’—ignoring someone in favour of one’s phone—known for its adverse effects on relationships and mental well-being. Based on working couples in the US, this research highlights workplace repercussions, particularly for female partners.

Professor Yasin Rofcanin, from the University of Bath’s Future of Work Research Centre, noted, “Phone usage erodes the connection between couples, hindering their ability to address stresses and concerns together.” Supportive interactions at home positively influence partners, enhancing creativity in the workplace. However, this supportive cycle diminishes when individuals immerse themselves in phone usage, missing out on meaningful moments of connection.

Analysing diary entries from 65 full-time, dual-income heterosexual couples with children over 15 working days, the research reveals that phone use disrupts social interaction and mutual support in balancing work and family responsibilities.

Previous studies with similar setups indicate that supportive interactions with co-workers extend to the home environment, benefiting partners and contributing to enhanced workplace creativity. However, this effect appears to be gender-specific, favouring women. Women are adept at translating support into workplace creativity, possibly due to societal expectations to manage home and work responsibilities, prompting them to seek support networks and family-friendly work policies.

The researchers assert that this supportive environment empowers women to be resourceful at work, engaging in proactive measures like ‘job-crafting’, enhancing job satisfaction, seeking new challenges, fostering stronger relationships with colleagues, and adopting a positive perspective on their roles—all contributing to enhanced workplace creativity.

These insights are particularly relevant in the post-pandemic era, where hybrid working arrangements are prevalent. As organisations adapt to this new landscape, understanding the impact of home dynamics on employee productivity and well-being is crucial.

The researchers anticipate that these findings will inform employer strategies regarding technology use outside working hours and underscore the significance of policies supporting work-family balance, such as flexible working schedules.

Dr Siqi Wang from Aston Business School emphasised the importance of fostering a supportive work-family environment through collaboration between HR managers and employees’ first-line supervisors. Employer initiatives like work-family supervisor training programmes focusing on communication and limiting technology use, especially for work-related purposes, can significantly benefit employees and organisations.

More information: Siqi Wang et al, The more you connect, the less you connect: An examination of the role of phubbing at home and job crafting in the crossover and spillover effects of work–family spousal support on employee creativity, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. DOI: 10.1111/joop.12503

Journal information: Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology Provided by University of Bath