Industry news
'Screen-slaves' risk their health
Posted Wed, 20 Jun 2012
Taking work home from the office is putting employees' health at risk, a new report is warning.
A study found that rather than relaxing by reading the paper on the train and then putting their feet up many are working more than two hours extra every day while commuting and after they get back home. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is warning that the so-called "screen-slaving" is putting people's mental and physical health at risk after its study of more than 2,000 office workers.
However, some of those taking part in the study reported that working at home in the evening actually helped ease stress. The CSP report warns that overworking can cause health problems with poor posture while using smartphones, laptops or other devices can result in back and neck pain with employers urged to encourage staff to take regular breaks.
The study found most workers spend six hours in front of a computer at the office but then carry on working on their smartphones or laptops while on the train or bus home.