Technostress in the hospitality workplace: is it an illness requiring accommodation?

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine technostress and asks whether it is an illness requiring accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It further explores the notion that hospitality employers may contribute to employee technostress and examines employers' potential legal liability. Finally, it recommends steps employers can take to avoid legal liability.

Design/methodology/approach

Technostress is defined in terms of job demand and resource theory. It explores how technology overload can contribute to employee technostress.

Findings

As there is currently no legal definition for technostress, courts will be guided by the standard of what a reasonably prudent individual would do to guard against a particular threat.

Research limitations/implications

The courts have yet to rule on whether technostress constitutes an illness requiring accommodation. It is therefore possible that technostress will not be classified as such. Still, operators should not make themselves a target for litigation.

Practical implications

Employers would be wise to craft policies that reduce the risk of technostress in the workplace to mitigate both its causes and effects.

Social implications

Very little research has been conducted examining the impact of technostress in the workplace. The obligation of employers to accommodate employees suffering from the effects of technostress will be litigated soon. This will have a significant impact on the culture surrounding catering and room sales.

Originality/value

No studies have been undertaken as yet to anticipate its effects on employees and what steps employers must take to accommodate employees who suffer from it. This paper fills that gap and, more importantly, does so before the issue is litigated.

研究目的

本论文旨在研究高新技术紧张症以及探索是否需要在美国残疾人法案中提出特殊关怀。此外，本论文还提出一个概念：酒店管理者可能从某种诚度上造成了高新技术紧张症，以及潜在的相关法律责任。最后，本论文向管理者提出建议，如何能够规避法律风险。

研究涉及/方法/途径

高新技术紧张症属于工作要求和资源理论范畴。其主要是强调过重的技术要求对员工高新技术紧张症的影响。

研究结果

由于目前未有法律层面上的高新技术紧张症定义，法庭应该参考这样的标准：力保一个相对严谨工作的个体能够保护其合理权益免受不正确对待。

研究理论限制/意义

法庭尚未对高新技术紧张症定义为需要特殊关怀的疾病。因此，高新技术紧张症可能不会被列入疾病一行。然而，雇主们应该尽量避免其自身收到相关诉讼。

研究实际意义

雇主们应该制定政策，降低工作场合的高级技术紧张症，这样才能够规避其严重后果。

研究社会意义

目前很少有研究工作场合的高新技术紧张症。对于让员工遭受其病症的雇主们将会很快受到诉讼。这将对企业文化营造和企业收入造成严重影响。

研究原创性/价值

目前尚未有文章对高新技术紧张症的影响和规避措施做出研究。本论文弥补了这个缺口，尤其是在这个问题尚未陷入严重诉讼影响之前。

Citation

Farrish, J. and Edwards, C. (2020), "Technostress in the hospitality workplace: is it an illness requiring accommodation?", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 83-92. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-07-2017-0046