Impact of digitization on health

Digitization at work - risk or opportunity for health?

Germany is in constant stress: Every second German citizen is stressed according to surveys. The main reason for this is the increasing digitization of the world of work and the constant accessibility at work. It also affects health.

Overloaded and burned out

Digitization offers a great opportunity in terms of the flexibility of companies and their employees. Modern technologies allow spatially distributed work and can reduce psychological stress on employees. However, results from a survey conducted by the umbrella organization of company health insurance funds (BKK) also show that one in five feels overloaded or burned out by digitization.

Although digitization offers great opportunities in terms of the flexibility of companies and their employees, it is also associated with a health burden, as studies show. (Image: foxyburrow / fotolia.com)

Burden on family life and health

Already in an older study entitled "Impact of digitizing work on workers' health", which surveyed more than 8,000 German workers, it became apparent that increasing digitization is putting a strain on family life and health.

Other studies have shown that the constant accessibility can lead to health problems, reports the BKK Melitta Plus in a statement.

Especially emotional exhaustion, poorer sleep quality, mental health problems and back and neck pain are considered as consequences of constant accessibility.

A result from the BKK Health Report 2017 "Digital Work - Digital Health" shows that in 2016 mentally ill patients stayed on average 38.8 days off work.

Due to the steadily increasing digitization, experts are predicting a further increase in mental illness over the next few years.

In addition, the duration of incapacity for mental illness is much higher than for other illnesses (musculoskeletal disorders: 19.9 days off work in 2016).

Digitalization as an opportunity in the world of work

The world of work is facing ever greater challenges as a result of digitization and demographic change.

In order for companies and employees to be able to benefit from the advantages of digitization, the risk assessment of mental stress is gaining considerable importance.

Employers have a duty of care to effectively contain the described negative consequences of digitization and constant accessibility, without at the same time limiting the positive potentials.

This requires individual prevention concepts for different types and sizes of company. (Ad)