More than 80% of managers for 9,000+ New Zealand employees say they would cut down on their digital screen use at work if they were given $250 every month, according to a poll by Frog Recruitment. And 92% say they would place their team on a “digital diet” to boost their health and well-being.
“We acknowledge that different industries have different screen time usage demands and going on a digital diet rather than a detox is still better than total saturation of devices,” says Jane Kennelly, Frog Recruitment business relationship director. At the same time, employers need to appreciate how often their employees are tapping into digital devices and the dangers of looking at a screen for seven hours during the work day.
“Digital obesity is a growing problem in New Zealand and the number of people addicted to their phones and social media is increasing at an alarming rate,” Kennelly says. “Our desire for a healthier lifestyle both inside and outside the office means employers need to consider implementing ‘down time’ strategies or a digital diet to keep workers healthy and creative–it’s also crucial for maintaining productivity.”