Logitech study finds office tech curbs worker control

Logitech has published a global workplace study on how employees experience technology in the office. It found many workers feel less in control of their technology at work than they do at home or on the move.

The survey covered more than 9,400 workers across nine countries and points to a gap between return-to-office policies and day-to-day working conditions. Workers were twice as likely to feel in control of their technology at home or while travelling as they were in the office.

Nearly half of respondents said employer restrictions on technology prevent them from realising the full benefits of control at work. Overall, 48% saw workplace limits on tools or hardware as a barrier.

That matters because the survey linked a sense of control over workplace technology to performance and wellbeing. Among respondents, 82% said being in control of their technology unlocks creativity and enables peak performance, while 77% agreed that people who feel more in control of their technology get more out of life.

The figures also suggest workplace technology problems do not end when the working day does. Some 64% of respondents said daily frustration with technology negatively affects their mood and energy after work.

Office divide

The research comes as many employers continue to tighten office attendance rules. Logitech cited market data showing a rise in formal office attendance requirements among large employers, particularly in the US and Asia-Pacific, as companies refit workplaces for more regular in-person attendance.

Against that backdrop, the study suggests the office can reduce workers' sense of control rather than improve working conditions. Employees often arrive expecting to perform in an environment where they feel less equipped than they do elsewhere.

Australian responses followed the same pattern, though the gap was sharper on some measures. In Australia, 59% of respondents said they face restricted freedom to choose technology tools or hardware at work, and workers were 3.8 times more likely to feel most in control at home or on the go than in the office.

Local respondents also connected technology control with work quality and life outside the office. The survey found 79% of Australian workers said being in control of their technology unlocks creativity and peak performance, while 76% agreed that people who feel more in control of their technology get more out of life. Another 64% said technology friction affects their mood after work.

Wider effects

The broader study examined not only productivity but also confidence, comfort and wellbeing. It found 81% of respondents said the right technology setup can make the difference between reaching their goals and falling short, while 63% reported greater confidence in their own abilities when they felt in control of their technology.

More than half of those surveyed also linked technology control to personal outcomes beyond output. Some 58% felt more optimistic about their future when they were in control of their technology, 54% reported improvements in physical or mental wellbeing, and 52% said control of their technology enabled them to accomplish something they did not think was possible.

The findings also pointed to strain among those who lack that sense of control. Across the survey group, 64% reported feeling frustrated, anxious or angry when technology fails, while 46% said they feel helpless, embarrassed, exhausted or as though they are falling behind. A further 58% said they experience physical discomfort such as wrist pain, eye strain or neck fatigue at least monthly from their technology setup.

Art O'Gnimh, Vice President and General Manager for Mice and Keyboards at Logitech, said the issue has become more visible as companies increase office attendance requirements.

"The office is a multiplier. A hundred workers that feel in control of their technology will bring dividends in creativity and productivity. A hundred that don't, won't. You can invest as much as you like in technology to drive productivity in your workforce, but if they don't feel a sense of control, you're more likely to be addressing issues of frustration, anxiety, lack of focus and physical discomfort. Remember, the laws of multiplication work both ways. Multiply by 0 and you get zero," O'Gnimh said.