Digital Health & Wellness
Learning Objectives
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At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
A. Explain the element of digital health and wellness.
B. Identify an example of Human Resources practices being impacted by digital health and wellness.
C. Explain a strategy that Human Resource professionals could used to deal with the digital health and wellness issue.
Overview of Digital Health & Wellness
![Checking someone heartbeat through their smartphone](/uploads/5/9/5/6/59564357/health_orig.jpg)
Digital health and wellness is the element that is deals with the well-being (both psychological and physical) of individuals that use and are impacted by digital technology (Ribble, 2015). This may include: physical impact caused by technology, ergonomics, addiction, or even stress caused by the technology. We need to be aware of how people use technology and the impact of technology on people. We need to notice if friends, family members, or employees are becoming addicted to the use of certain technologies (e.g., Facebook, video games, smartphones) and if so please some guidance to help. Further, if we notice the length of time people use PCs, we may want to make sure their equipment is ergonomically correct. Therefore, often you may see that companies or institutions will implement standards to use technology that will help them avoid physical injury and provide resource if technology is becoming an addiction in their lives.
Connections to Digital Citizenship Theme
In the field of Human Resource Management (HRM), the element of digital health and wellness should be a consideration when developing your HRM practices. Digital health and wellness stems across various HRM issues, such as managers being connect 24/7 or employees constantly checking of emails or social media. These issues can have serious impact on level of stress that employee's experiences.
Eighty-six percent of employees describe themselves as constantly connected to some technology at work (APA, 2017). Further, they describe their stress levels as 5.3 (on a 10 pt scale). This type of stress can lead to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and a myriad of health issues. Therefore, HRM professional need to be proactive on this front and establish resources to help employee who experience stress from the technology they use. HR professionals could also providing training on exercises to help prevent injuries from the use of equipment (PCs, keyboards, machines) and could provide overall stress reductions programs. This could include meditation, yoga, or tai chi lessons to help minimize stress. Further, HR professionals could establish employee assisted programs (EAPs) that could provide psychological counseling and finally, implement full blown wellness programs. HR professionals know the cost of stress in their employees and should try to help to minimize this is any way possible.
Eighty-six percent of employees describe themselves as constantly connected to some technology at work (APA, 2017). Further, they describe their stress levels as 5.3 (on a 10 pt scale). This type of stress can lead to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and a myriad of health issues. Therefore, HRM professional need to be proactive on this front and establish resources to help employee who experience stress from the technology they use. HR professionals could also providing training on exercises to help prevent injuries from the use of equipment (PCs, keyboards, machines) and could provide overall stress reductions programs. This could include meditation, yoga, or tai chi lessons to help minimize stress. Further, HR professionals could establish employee assisted programs (EAPs) that could provide psychological counseling and finally, implement full blown wellness programs. HR professionals know the cost of stress in their employees and should try to help to minimize this is any way possible.
NPR Radio Audio Broadcasts
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The following are podcasts from NPR that highlight several of the issues you just read about regarding digital etiquette and the impact on HR professionals.
NPR Broadcast #1
Headline: Wellness Programs Take Aim at Workplace Stress
Published date: July 18, 2016
Time length: 2:41
The Link to the transcript is below:
Published date: July 18, 2016
Time length: 2:41
The Link to the transcript is below:
Summary of NPR Broadcast #1
This podcast discusses how many are experiencing stress in the workplace. Stress often leads to several different health issues. This is leading to many employers to implement wellness programs.
This podcast discusses how many are experiencing stress in the workplace. Stress often leads to several different health issues. This is leading to many employers to implement wellness programs.
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NPR Broadcast #2
Headline: Get a GRip on Your Information Overload with "Infomagical"
Published date: January 25, 2016
Time length: 5:00
The Link to the transcript is below
Published date: January 25, 2016
Time length: 5:00
The Link to the transcript is below
Summary of NPR Broadcast #2
This podcast describes how information overload can cause individuals to experience stress. Further, this describes how research is provide more insight to what people experience from information overload.
This podcast describes how information overload can cause individuals to experience stress. Further, this describes how research is provide more insight to what people experience from information overload.
References
APA (2017). Stress in America: Coping with change. Retrieved May, 19, 2017 from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2017/technology-social-media.PDF
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know (3rd ed.). Eugene, Oregon: International Society for Technology in Education.
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know (3rd ed.). Eugene, Oregon: International Society for Technology in Education.