Recently, companies adapted their offices to meet evolving CDC guidelines regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it was sending employees home to work or enforcing social distancing and mask-wearing, more focus has been placed on the importance of employee health.
Additionally, the increased reliance on digital technologies in this remote work shift raises the question: how is workplace tech affecting employee health?
Below are six ways that technology can impact employees’ mental and physical health.
1) TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME MIGHT RESULT IN DIGITAL EYE STRAIN
Digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, can occur when employees spend excessive time viewing a computer or digital screen. An American worker spends around seven hours a day on the computer at home or in the office.
Sufferers of digital eye strain may experience dry eyes, neck pain, blurred vision, headaches, eye strain, and shoulder pain. One common method to reduce digital eye strain is following the 20-20-20 rule, where every 20 minutes, employees take a 20-second break from screens and focus their eyes on something 20 feet away.
2) WEARABLE DEVICES CAN PROMOTE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS
Fitness trackers like Fitbits, Apple Watches, and Garmin products are digital solutions employers can offer their employees to promote exercise, a known strategy to improve overall physical health.
Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that soreness and pain are common workplace injuries. However, it’s also reported by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) that physical activity is an effective treatment for pain prevention.
One study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that fitness trackers had a small to moderate effect on increasing physical activity for participants. Participants in the study that used fitness trackers took about 1,850 extra steps per day compared to non-users.
3) USING TECHNOLOGY ENABLES EMPLOYEES TO ACHIEVE A BETTER WORK-LIFE BALANCE
In a study conducted by Aetna, 83% of respondents agree that technology enables them to work remotely and balance life and work. However, 66% of respondents agree that working from home blurs the line between their work and home lives.
Based on these findings, employees are simultaneously optimistic and cautious about using technology for work purposes. Striking a work-life balance is important for many employees and creating a healthy work environment.
4) EXCESSIVE TIME USING COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CAN INCREASE EMPLOYEE STRESS
While communication technology is essential for most, if not all, businesses, it may be increasing employee stress. An “always-on” workplace culture, where employees are expected to respond to texts, emails, or instant messages (IMs) at all hours of the day, can have negative implications for employees.
Natalie Pennington, Ph.D. – assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas – explains that information communication technology (ICT) can create stress and anxiety for employees, negatively affecting their work-life balance.
5) PROLONGED USE OF EARPHONES, EARBUDS, OR HEADPHONES COULD POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO HEARING LOSS
Many workers use headphones, earphones, or earbuds to listen to music, podcasts, or other audio files. Some people even think listening to music boosts productivity during the workday.
However, doctors claim that early, repeated exposure to loud sounds can lead to inner ear damage, which is permanent. Better-quality headphones, over-the-ear headphones, and listening to no more than 85 decibels (dB) for no more than eight hours a day are ways to minimize the risk of hearing loss for employees.
6) EMPLOYEES CAN ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
With new and emerging digital technologies, employers can offer personalized mental health solutions for employees. For example, employees with depression or anxiety can seek out mental health services, such as video conferencing with licensed counselors, on their computers.
Employee mental well-being should be a main priority for employers. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over $1 trillion is lost per year due to lost productivity resulting from depression and anxiety.
This list includes a handful of ways tech impacts the modern workplace. Some benefits and drawbacks come with employees using technology. As the world becomes ever more reliant on technology, it’ll be interesting to see how it impacts workplace productivity and culture.
TECHNOLOGY’S HEALTH EFFECTS ON EMPLOYEES
There’s no doubt that technology is a saving grace for many companies, but it can negatively affect employee health. Employers are responsible for providing employees with a safe working environment – and maintaining proper use of technology is no exception.
