Adaptability and burnout in the face of changing technological demands and resources at work

Purpose To explore how individual adaptability shapes the link between perceptions of technology demands and resources, and burnout in the context of emerging technology at work. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative thematic analysis of 27 semi-structured interviews with managers in banking, information technology and higher education sectors. Findings Changing technology and hybrid ways of work have meant that employees need to display new forms of adaptability by handling physical and mental workspaces. We identify technological demands and resources shaped by individuals’ adaptability. We propose a matrix to illustrate the role of adaptability in the JD-R model of burnout. Practical implications Managers can identify technological issues at work in terms of demands and resources and take action to prevent burnout/foster engagement by enabling employee adaptability. Originality/value The results provide a new dimension of adaptability “handling physical and mental workspaces”, extending previous adaptability constructs. By showing how adaptability links to technological demands and resources, we propose a new JD-R matrix of burnout in terms of adaptability.