A recent survey of 4,000 employees in the UK, the U.S., Singapore and the UAE, reveals that 3 in 4 office workers believe that restricting their screen time would benefit their mental and physical health.
The data has been revealed in a recent report, The digital health dilemma: Is technology keeping workers healthy or making them ill?, published by international health benefits provider, Aetna International, in a bid to uncover how modern workplace technology and digital tools have impacted employee well-being.
Here’s what Unison recommends as the bare minimum for workers using computer equipment – but most employers fall short on this front:
- Many jobs involve working with computers for long periods of time. It is important that you sit in a way that does not cause back problems and take regular screen breaks to prevent eye strain.
- Computers in the workplace should be assessed using risk assessment procedures.
- A poorly set-up workstation can lead to discomfort, back pain, work-related upper limb disorders or repetitve strain injury.
- DSE regulations suggest a 5-10 minute screen break or change of activity every hour.
These recommendations still apply to workers working from home, and employers need to ensure that home workers understand them.
With more employees currently working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, workers are now more reliant on technology than ever before. The report explores how the use of technology was impacting employee well-being before the pandemic began, and reveals how we can make adjustments to our relationship with digital tech moving forward to help employees keep healthy and well.
The impact of screen time on physical and mental health
The majority of employees feel that sitting at their computer for long durations have hindered their physical health:
- 70% of employees agree that they would exercise more if they spent less time at their PC
- 76% of employees feel that reduced or restricted out of hours technology use would help them manage their physical health better if provided by their employer
Adding to this, the majority of employees from around the world agreed that the overuse of technology in the workplace has had negative effects ontheir mental health:
- 75% agree that restricting the use of screen time in the office would help them to better manage their mental health
- 56% said that the overuse of communication platforms and internal emails increases their stress levels
High demand for access to digital health solutions
Despite the negative impact of workplace technology on employee wellbeing, many felt that technology could conversely have a beneficial impact on their physical health:
- 77% of employees feel that employer-provided access to convenient online exercise or health appointment options online would help them manage their physical health better
- 69% of employees feel that an employer-provided Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker (e.g. Fitbit) would help them manage their physical health better
Many employees also felt there were several employer-provided tech solutions that could help support their mental health:
- 66% of employees agreed that their employer could help them with their mental health by enabling them to access online mental health appointments and support
- 63% believe that they could better manage their mental health if their employer provided them with mindfulness apps such as Headspace
The pitfalls of mobile phone use outside of office hours
Whilst digital advancements have made it possible for businesses to enable employees to work from home or to work flexible hours, these arrangements have come with the pressure to stay ‘switched on’ during the evenings, weekends and even on vacation. In fact:
- 66% of employees agreed that their employer could help them with their mental health by enabling them to access online mental health appointments and support
- 63% believe that they could better manage their mental health if their employer provided them with mindfulness apps such as Headspace
Additionally, the pressure to stay ‘switched on’ forces 64% of employees check their phone for work-related messages before they go to sleep. A further 70% check first thing in the morning, despite 66% of them admit that checking their phone for work-related messages can make them feel stressed.
The health and wellness opportunities afforded by tech
Technology allows individuals to reap the benefits of flexible remote working. For many, working from home offers more opportunity to take better care of their health and well-being:
- 73% of respondents agreed that they are able to find more time to look after their physical health when they work from home
- 77% agree that more opportunities to work from home would help them improve their mental health
- 70% feel less stressed about their work when they work remotely
Despite this, employees in the UK are the least likely to feel the benefits of remote working:
- 32% agree that working from home makes them feel more stressed compared to the 19% regional average
- Just 66% agreed that working from home allows them to find more time to look after their physical health compared to 78% in the UAE
Sam McKendrick, Vice President, Human Resources, Aetna International:
“The link between employee health and well-being and their happiness and productivity is well documented, which is why it’s so important for businesses to look at employee health from a variety of different perspectives. As so many employees feel that restricting screen time would benefit their mental and physical health, it’s clear that employers can do more to address this as part of their overall approach to health and well-being. Solutions can be as simple as implementing policies that help ensure employees take regular breaks away from their computer screens.
“As the study shows that many employees feel there are several ways in which employers could offer digital tech solutions to help them with their mental health, it’s worth organisations exploring this with their own workers. During the pandemic in particular, we have found that providing our own employees with convenient access to virtual or digital mental health support – from digital counselling to self-help apps – has been very well received and has had a very positive impact. As responsible employers, it’s important that we continuously learn from our experiences – both internally and externally – and find ways to positively impact the well-being, health, happiness and productivity of our people.”
You can see the full report here: https://www.aetnainternational.com/en/about-us/explore/future-health/digital-health-dilemma-2020.html
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