Eventi

The last thirty years have witnessed major technological and digital developments that have affected almost all economic activities and have profoundly changed the working environment. From the use of computers in office work to more modern applications in smart manufacturing, modern technologies have become an integral part of how organisations operate. Technology is even transforming activities that were previously considered more traditional and less digitised, e.g. precision agriculture, through innovative technologies (such as robotics, sensors, satellites, mapping, drones, AI), manages farmland better and more accurately and enables more sustainable food production.

For modern workers, this means being able to use at least some modern technologies. It is estimated that the workforce will become increasingly diverse and dispersed, with increasing income and job insecurity. Workers will be required to acquire new digital skills to remain employable.  Data from the European Commission shows that only 54 % of EU citizens of working age have at least basic digital skills, and only 55 % of SMEs have reached at least a basic level of digitalisation.

Modern digital technologies bring with them new challenges for occupational safety and health and its management. Recent research has shown that the use of VR, AR and XR technologies in the workplace can cause vision problems, sleep disorders, epilepsy, musculoskeletal disorders, skin problems, battery-related injuries, slips, trips and falls, as well as cyber-sickness.

Technological or digital stress is a term referring to the negative psychological and physical effects of excessive or inappropriate use of technology. It can be caused by various factors such as information overload, technological invasion, technological complexity, technological uncertainty, technological dependence and technological anxiety; these are the dimensions of technostress. These can affect well-being, performance, creativity and relationships. It is particularly prevalent among people who use technology for work, education, entertainment or socialising. Those who also work with technology are more likely to be affected. This is today's reality, especially for employees working in knowledge-intensive companies. Research has shown that technology overload and technology invasion can make employees generally feel overwhelmed, exhausted and distracted by the constant demands and challenges associated with technology. Technological complexity and technological uncertainty can foster feelings of frustration, anxiety and lack of self-awareness. 

The webinar organised by the Slovenian Focal Point will also discuss sleep, which is, alongside healthy diet and regular physical activity, crucial for physical health and an effective immune system. It helps to regulate emotions and overcome stress.  

In addition, the webinar will discuss how to recognise burnout and burnout at work. Despite the many dilemmas that still arise regarding the definition and causes of burnout, burnout is also defined as a descriptive diagnosis (Z73.0) in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) as a state of life exhaustion. Burnout can be defined along three dimensions: exhaustion, depersonalisation aka withdrawal or cynicism, and reduced personal effectiveness.

Moderator:

• Vida PETROVČIČ, Journalist

Speakers:

• Nikolaj PETRIŠIČ, MSc, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Department, (Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities)
• Prof Dr Matej ČERNE (Faculty of Economics of the University of Ljubljana)
• Prof Dr Leja DOLENC GROŠELJ, MD (Centre for Sleep Disorders, University Medical Centre Ljubljana)
• ZAP FITCORP, Occupational Medicine, Traffic, and Sports
• Assoc Prof Dr Sara TEMENT (Faculty of Arts of the University of Maribor)