Technostress in the hospitality workplace: is it an illness requiring accommodation? John Farrish Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA, and Chase Edwards Department of Marketing, Hospitality and Business Law, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to examine technostress and asks whether it is an illness requiring accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It further explores the notion that hospitality employers may contribute to employee technostress and examines employers’ potential legal liability. Finally, it recommends steps employers can take to avoid legal liability. Design/methodology/approach – Technostress is defined in terms of job demand and resource theory. It explores how technology overload can contribute to employee technostress. Findings – As there is currently no legal definition for technostress, courts will be guided by the standard of what a reasonably prudent individual would do to guard against a particular threat. Research limitations/implications – The courts have yet to rule on whether technostress constitutes an illness requiring accommodation. It is therefore possible that technostress will not be classified as such. Still, operators should not make themselves a target for litigation. Practical implications – Employers would be wise to craft policies that reduce the risk of technostress in the workplace to mitigate both its causes and effects. Social implications – Very little research has been conducted examining the impact of technostress in the workplace. The obligation of employers to accommodate employees suffering from the effects of technostress will be litigated soon. This will have a significant impact on the culture surrounding catering and room sales. Originality/value – No studies have been undertaken as yet to anticipate its effects on employees and what steps employers must take to accommodate employees who suffer from it. This paper fills that gap and, more importantly, does so before the issue is litigated. Keywords Americans with Disabilities Act, Employer liability Paper type Conceptual paper 论酒店行业中的高新技术紧张症：这是一种需要关怀的病吗？ 摘要 研究目的 – 本论文旨在研究高新技术紧张症以及探索是否需要在美国残疾人法案中提出特殊关怀。 此外，本论文还提出一个概念：酒店管理者可能从某种诚度上造成了高新技术紧张症，以及潜在的 相关法律责任。最后，本论文向管理者提出建议，如何能够规避法律风险。 研究涉及/方法/途径 – 高新技术紧张症属于工作要求和资源理论范畴。其主要是强调过重的技术要 求对员工高新技术紧张症的影响。 研究结果 – 由于目前未有法律层面上的高新技术紧张症定义，法庭应该参考这样的标准：力保一个 相对严谨工作的个体能够保护其合理权益免受不正确对待。 Technostress in the hospitality workplace 83 Received 14 July 2017 Revised 10 January 2018 2 March 2018 Accepted 5 March 2018 Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology Vol. 11 No. 1, 2020 pp. 83-92 © Emerald Publishing Limited 1757-9880 DOI 10.1108/JHTT-07-2017-0046 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/1757-9880.htm