Digital Fatigue Is Real: How HR can safeguard employee wellbeing

The modern workplace is digital-first. Whether employees are in the office or working remotely, screens dominate the working day. Emails, instant messages, video calls, and online platforms keep people connected, but they also create a growing challenge: digital fatigue.

What is digital fatigue and why it is a growing problem?

Digital fatigue is the mental and physical strain caused by prolonged screen time and constant digital interaction. It often includes eye fatigue, headaches, and musculoskeletal pain, alongside mental exhaustion. Crucially, this doesn’t end when the workday finishes; people move from work screens to personal screens, leaving little respite. This continuous exposure makes recovery harder and significantly amplifies health risks.

Digital fatigue impacts: productivity and sickness absence

Research shows that 55% of UK office workers experience digital eye strain, and up to 80% report musculoskeletal pain linked to poor posture during screen use. These issues directly reduce concentration and drive up sickness absence. Eye strain alone costs UK workers nearly 40 minutes of productivity every day. Furthermore, musculoskeletal disorders remain one of the leading causes of workplace sickness absence. Combined with the stress of being “always available,” digital fatigue becomes a serious threat to employee engagement and retention.

Understanding the health risks of prolonged screen use

Prolonged screen use is the major contributor to Digital Eye Strain (DES), affecting over half of UK adults with symptoms like headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. Left untreated, these issues can lead to long-term vision problems. Office workers are also at high risk of musculoskeletal pain. Poor ergonomics - low screens, unsupported chairs, and extended sitting - cause chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain. The UK has seen a sharp rise in these problems since 2019, with welfare costs for back issues now exceeding £1.4 billion annually.

Addressing the mental health impact of digital overload

Digital fatigue is not just physical; the constant stream of notifications and virtual meetings creates cognitive overload. Employees struggle to focus, and attention spans shrink as people rapidly switch between tasks. This “always-on” culture increases stress and anxiety, impeding mental recovery. For older workers, rapid technology changes can feel overwhelming, leading to frustration and disengagement. When digital tools become barriers rather than enablers, the risk of exclusion and impact on confidence rises.

Burnout is a real consequence. Burnt out employees often struggle with attention spans and stress caused by digital overload. The pressure to stay connected and learn new systems can push some workers (especially older employees) towards disengagement or even out of the workforce. For HR leaders, this is more than a wellbeing issue, it is also a critical talent retention risk.

How HR can reduce digital fatigue and support wellbeing

HR leaders can take practical, cultural, and strategic steps to protect employees. This includes introducing screen-free blocks during the day to break up digital intensity, encouraging micro-breaks, and promoting ergonomic best practices. It's essential to provide guidance and equipment for proper workstation setup, both at home and in the office. Furthermore, HR must create a culture that values results over constant online presence to reduce the pressure to be “always on.”

Cultural changes are not enough; employees need access to proactive health support that addresses the physical and mental toll. Preventing digital fatigue requires accessible health interventions. For example, BHSF’s Health & Wellbeing Plan offers access to a number of ways to recognise and reduce digital fatigue: online eye screening to detect and prevent eye strain; and a digital physiotherapy tool, providing tailored exercises to improve posture and reduce musculoskeletal pain. Alongside this there is mental health support with confidential counselling and wellbeing resources to manage stress.

These solutions don’t just treat symptoms; they help prevent problems before they escalate, reducing absenteeism and improving productivity.

Key takeaway

Digital fatigue is a permanent feature of the modern workplace, but its impact doesn’t have to be. Addressing computer screen eye fatigue and supporting workplace wellbeing is a strategic investment that reduces absenteeism and improves retention.

Sources

• UK adults spend 3.41 hours per day on smartphones, rising to 4.84 hours for Gen Z. https://www.psychreg.org/uk-ready-unplug-impact-screen-time/
• 85% of Gen Z feel pressure to be “always available” online. https://www.psychreg.org/uk-ready-unplug-impact-screen-time/
• Over half of UK adults report symptoms of digital fatigue, including headaches and eye strain. https://wecovr.com/guides/uk-screen-fatigue-£35m-health-burden/
• 62.6% of UK digital device users experience Digital Eye Strain (DES), with symptoms like headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. https://research.aston.ac.uk/en/publications/digital-eye-strain-and-its-impact-on-working-adults-in-the-uk-and/
• 65% of office-based employees report symptoms of digital eye strain. https://theophthalmologist.com/issues/2025/articles/mar/occupational-eye-hazards/
• Eye strain costs UK workers nearly 40 minutes of productivity every day. https://workplacewellbeing.pro/news/eye-strain-costs-uk-workers-nearly-40-minutes-of-productivity/
• 29% of employees spend more than 6 hours a day in front of a screen, and 40% report vision deterioration since starting their current job. https://workinmind.org/2025/04/09/uk-workplace-eye-health-neglected-new-survey-finds/
• 511,000 UK workers suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) annually. https://www.ukata.org.uk/documents/672/Health_and_Safety_at_Work_Summary_Statistics_for_Great_Britain_2025.pdf
• MSDs account for 27% of all work-related ill health cases and 21% of all working days lost. https://www.ukata.org.uk/documents/672/Health_and_Safety_at_Work_Summary_Statistics_for_Great_Britain_2025.pdf
• Estimated 7.8 million working days lost due to MSDs in 2023–24. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHSE/bulletins/3c641e1
• 964,000 UK workers reported work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2024/25. https://hcssafety.co.uk/news/2025-hse-statistics-tell-us/
• Digital overload leads to difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability, and reduced productivity. https://neurolaunch.com/digital-overload/
• 49% of UK adults feel their attention span is shorter than it used to be; many check their phones up to 80 times a day. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/are-attention-spans-really-collapsing-data-shows-uk-public-are-worried-but-also-see-benefits-from-technology
• Exposure to short-form content reduces sustained attention by 27% and ability to focus on tasks beyond 9 minutes. https://sqmagazine.co.uk/social-media-attention-span-statistics/
• More than 1 in 3 over-65s (4.7 million) lack basic digital skills; 1 in 6 don’t use the internet at all. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-press/articles/2024/more-than-1-in-3-over-65s-4.7-million-lack-the-basic-skills-to-use-the-internet-successfully/
• 63% of older workers lack essential digital skills for work, making adaptation to new systems challenging. https://futuredotnow.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Routes-to-20-million_progress-in-2024-and-2025-plan-for-action_final.pdf
• Only 47% of over-55s feel their current role offers good skills development, compared to 73% of younger workers. https://www.cipd.org/en/about/press-releases/new-reskilling-era-needed-to-boost-lifelong-learning-older-workers-says-cipd/