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Recent research explores the nuanced impacts of virtual meetings on knowledge workers, challenging the prevalent notion that virtual meeting fatigue is solely a manifestation of active fatigue, characterized by exhaustion from overstimulation. Instead, it proposes that virtual meetings more frequently induce passive fatigue, marked by drowsiness due to understimulation. Through a study involving 44 knowledge workers participating in 382 real-life meetings, the researchers found a significant correlation between virtual meetings and increased passive fatigue, adversely affecting cognitive performance. Moreover, the study suggests that work engagement may serve as a protective factor, moderating the impact of virtual meetings on individuals' fatigue levels and cognitive performance.

The Underrecognized Role of Passive Fatigue

One critical insight from this study is the identification and emphasis on passive fatigue as a significant outcome of virtual meetings. Unlike active fatigue, which results from cognitive overload and has been the focus of much previous research, passive fatigue stems from a lack of stimulation and engagement. This condition leads to drowsiness and decreased alertness, which are harmful to cognitive performance and overall productivity. By highlighting this aspect, the research adds a crucial dimension to our understanding of virtual work's impacts on mental health and performance.

Work Engagement as a Moderating Factor

Another essential contribution of this research is the explanation of work engagement's role in mitigating the negative effects of virtual meetings. High levels of work engagement appear to buffer individuals against the cognitive disengagement typically associated with passive fatigue. Engaged employees, with their intrinsic interest in tasks and higher motivation, are less likely to experience the decrement in cognitive performance following virtual meetings. This finding points to the importance of fostering engagement in the virtual workplace as a strategy to preserve cognitive function and worker wellbeing.

This research offers valuable insights into the nuanced impacts of virtual meetings on worker fatigue and cognitive performance. By shifting the focus from active to passive fatigue and highlighting the protective role of work engagement, it provides a foundation for developing more effective strategies to combat the challenges of the virtual work environment.