Psychosocial risks: excessive digital technology harms health at work
The Observatory of Infobesity and Digital Collaboration ( OICN ) is attempting to answer the broad question of the impact of technology on the health of employees by publishing, on Thursday, June 26, a summary resulting from the compilation of scientific studies, cross-referenced with data recorded by the digital specialist Mailoop firm.
This overview, entitled "Digital Technologies and Occupational Risks," highlights that both mental and physical health are at risk. Physically, eye strain and headaches are caused by prolonged screen time, followed by the damage of a sedentary lifestyle.
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work survey (2024), prolonged sitting has become the leading risk factor in the workplace, ahead of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) resulting from repetitive movements or poor workstation ergonomics. "This posture promotes cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity. Previously associated with genetic factors or personal lifestyle, these ailments are now becoming occupational diseases with the development of digital technology and particularly teleworking," points out Suzy Canivenc, doctor of information and communication sciences and author of this summary.
Ten thirty-nine at the leaders'Digital technology also impacts mental health by intensifying work and increasing the time spent on it. Three out of four employees believe that their work is becoming more complex, and 42% attribute this directly to digital transformation ( PEGA, 2022 ). Digital technology also leads to spending ever more time on information management (responding to requests, sending requests and reminders, coordinating work with others) to the detriment of other tasks. “These tasks are rarely mentioned in job descriptions and schedules, even though they constitute a significant part of the workload,” notes Suzy Canivenc.
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