Dive Brief:

• Sixty-six percent of managers don't think negative online reviews impact their hiring process, but 57% of employees admit they won't apply to a company with negative online reviews, according to a Randstad US report that assessed how technology impacts employee experience from recruitment to retention. Randstad polled more than 1,200 HR professionals, managers and workers for its report. 
• When it comes to conflict resolution, more than half of managers and employees admit they use digital communication rather than face-to-face or phone conversations, the report found. Managers surveyed also believe technology encourages them to take immediate action rather than think strategically, Randstad said. 
• Technology amplifies the pressure to always be available, with 53% of managers surveyed expecting workers to respond to some messages while on vacation. Only 21% do so because they love their work, Randstad found, while 18% feel it's good for their career to do so and 16% feel guilty if they don't respond.

Dive Insight:

While many laud technology's potential to improve workflows and productivity in the workplace, managers and their subordinates face the downsides as well. As of 2018, a majority of tech workers suffered from burnout, meaning the stakes are high for employers to more closely examine the impact digital transformation puts on workers — especially in industries on the leading edge of that transformation. In a similar way, using technology to communicate may be faster and more efficient, but can be less effective at resolving conflict or communicating nuanced ideas within teams. Additionally, trying to communicate with today's wide range of age groups in the workforce can easily lead to miscommunication. HR can help mitigate the pressure by partnering with other leaders on a digital transformation plan that takes worker well-being into account, though it may also need to advocate for the needed resources to bring that plan to fruition. 

As Randstad's findings show, tech can also complicate an employer's public image and ability to attract workers. Though sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor are helpful when it comes to sourcing, they also provide an outlet for former employees to publicize their work experiences — both good and bad. As the Randstad survey indicates, top talent may ignore a company with a negative reviews on job sites, which can lead some employers to spend more on hiring or outward-facing branding efforts. This dynamic has inspired many talent pros to adopt tactics from marketers and consider overhauling their organization's workplace culture.