Checking work-related emails when you are off the clock is bad for your health, according to a new study.

It's called "telepressure" - that urge to quickly respond to work-related text messages, voicemails and emails no matter where you are or what time it is. 

This workforce health issue is infecting Americans throughout the work force, as 52 percent diligently check their email before arriving at work in the morning and after they get back home, reported TIME.

The study was conducted by issuing two separate online surveys to 300 people each. The findings connected telepressure with worse sleep, higher levels of burnout and more health-related absences from work. 

"But this flexibility can sometimes have unintended costs," she adds. "Employees start to feel like they should be available and responsive to work requests at all times. This type of continuous connection does not allow people enough time to recover from work." NIU psychology professor Larissa Barber, who is the lead author of the study, said to AZ Central. 

The study was published in PsycNET this month.