Title: Effects of digital transformation on employees and managers - protection against work intensification, case - hospitals

Authors: Jens Eilers; Rozalia Sulikova

Addresses: Faculty of Management, Comenius University Bratislava, Odbojárov 10, P.O. Box 95, 820 05 Bratislava 25, Slovak Republic ' Faculty of Management, Comenius University Bratislava, Odbojárov 10, P.O. Box 95, 820 05 Bratislava 25, Slovak Republic

Abstract: The health and social services sector are undergoing a significant transformation due to digitisation, resulting in increased working time flexibility and reliance on digital systems. This study explores the interrelationships among these factors, focusing on church-owned hospitals in Germany. Using quantitative analysis and expert interviews, two hypotheses are tested. Firstly, there is a weak and statistically insignificant negative correlation between working time flexibilisation and digital device usage among employees. Secondly, there is a very weak and statistically insignificant positive correlation between increasing digitisation and measures to protect against performance overload. These findings indicate that other factors may play a more substantial role in shaping these dynamics. Comparisons with related studies highlight the evolving landscape of work in the digital age, emphasising the importance of workplace regulations and employee well-being and provide a strong plea for related actions of work councils.

Keywords: digitisation; mobile systems; working time protection; employee representatives; church-owned hospitals; work-life balance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2025.149173

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2025 Vol.30 No.2/3, pp.198 - 216

Received: 09 Jul 2024
Accepted: 06 Jan 2025
Published online: 16 Oct 2025 *

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