UX Collective | Medium
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Your poor work/life balance might be my fault
An interviewee expressed enthusiasm for a mobile app designed for financial and regulatory compliance users, not to simplify work, but to enable them to work more. The author argues that creating tools encouraging people to work extra, off-the-clock hours is exploitative. Such apps can foster inequity by pressuring teams to be always available, negatively impacting caretakers and individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, hourly employees might not be compensated for overtime use, and expecting employees to use personal devices raises privacy concerns. The pandemic highlighted both the negative impacts of constant work and the benefits of remote work, such as increased productivity and flexibility. The author emphasizes that work-life balance is not solely an individual responsibility, but also shaped by the systems designers create. Designers should avoid deceptive patterns, like making essential features mobile-only or bombarding users with upsell notifications. Instead, they should help users set boundaries by incorporating features like configurable working hours and timezone settings. Software can also serve as a buffer by indicating when colleagues are unavailable or have PTO. Additionally, products can help users perceive and manage their time better, similar to how consumer apps offer disengagement reminders. Providing granular notification options allows users to control interruptions. Ultimately, UX and product designers have a significant role in shaping future workplace culture and must design responsibly.