Many workers feel pressured by their employers to be constantly available and this can have a negative impact on health and wellbeing, a new study has found.

According to the findings, employers need to do more to ensure that their staff do not feel pressured into working outside of their contracted hours.

UK researchers analysed 56 studies which focused on the use of technology during non-working hours.

They found that the internet and improved IT have made non-manual work increasingly accessible and portable, resulting in many employees finding it easier to work outside of their contracted hours.

However, the research also suggested that many employees felt pressured by their employers to be constantly available and engaged with work, even during non-work time.

Those who wished to show their dedication and ‘go the extra mile' were also more likely to work outside of their contracted hours.

In some cases, the employee's behaviour shaped what was expected of them, i.e. if they were always available in the past, they were expected to be always available in the future.

"A failure to disconnect from work can negatively impact on a person's wellbeing and health. Many individuals report feeling pressured into logging in after hours to complete work, a task that is becoming more commonplace with the advance of technology," commented the study's lead author, Svenja Schlachter, from the University of Surrey.

However, she noted that the flip side of this is that some people actually prefer working out of hours, as they feel it gives them greater flexibility and control over their workload. Some also appreciate the benefits of being able stay on top of their work load.

In order to overcome the disparity in how employees chose to work, the researchers recommend that employers give individuals more control over their working patterns and actively involve them in any decisions or policies about technology use, so that employees can enjoy the benefits of modern technology without being enslaved by it.

"Although employers implementing policies such as restricting accessibility to emails outside of office hours take a step in the right direction to ensure a good work/life balance for their workers, such regimented approaches to when you should and shouldn't be working do not work for everyone.

"Employers need to work with their staff to understand their individual needs wherever possible. However, employees also need to take responsibility for their working behaviour, as it is ultimately up to them if they switch their phone off or not," Ms Schlachter said.

Details of these findings are published in the International Journal of Management Reviews.