83% of Employees in Egypt Stay Connected to Work During Time Off, Kaspersky Survey Finds
A recent survey conducted by Kaspersky highlights a growing wave of digital anxiety among employees in Egypt, as the boundaries between professional and personal life continue to blur.
The findings show that 83% of employees remain connected to work beyond official hours. Approximately 86% respond to all work-related messages via instant messaging applications, while 85% check work emails during their time off. Notably, 81% admit to replying to emails even while on vacation or during personal time.
This “always-on” culture is contributing to rising levels of workplace stress. According to the report, 41% of respondents experience anxiety after accidentally sending a message in a work chat. However, perceptions of digital errors vary, as 46% say they remain calm when sending an incomplete email.
The study also highlights the psychological toll of constant connectivity. Around 33% of respondents report feeling uncomfortable or even fearful if their managers notice them browsing social media during working hours. Experts warn that such pressure may negatively impact employee well-being, increase the risk of burnout, and reduce long-term productivity.
According to Brandon Muller, Technical Expert at Kaspersky, digital anxiety can also heighten cybersecurity risks. Employees under constant pressure to respond quickly are more likely to act impulsively, increasing their vulnerability to phishing attacks and other social engineering threats.
To mitigate these risks, Kaspersky advises employees to pause before clicking on links or responding to messages, verify urgent or unexpected requests, avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, and adopt advanced cybersecurity tools, including AI-powered anti-phishing solutions.
The company also recommends that organizations invest in ongoing cybersecurity training and deploy robust protection systems—such as cloud-native security solutions and advanced email protection tools—to minimize the impact of human error.