Using computers and screens when working remotely
As an employer, you are responsible for the work environment, even when work is done remotely. When working remotely, there should be conditions for comfortable working positions, as well as sufficient variety and recovery.
The risks of remote work
Many people perceive remote work as positive, for example because of increased independence and not having to commute to work.
Working remotely can also involve risks. The boundary between work and leisure can become blurred and screen time can be lengthy with insufficient breaks for recovery. Remote work can also place higher demands on the individual employee to plan their own work.
If you work at a computer screen for a long time and in long, uninterrupted sessions, this can lead to ill health. For example:
- aches and pains in the neck and arms
- eye problems
- sleep difficulties
- fatigue if continued for a long time.
Digital meetings that follow one after another makes it difficult to take necessary breaks for recovery. Many people also become more tired from digital meetings than physical meetings.
A constant influx of emails or other information that demands attention can cause employees to skip breaks that they need. This is why it is important for you, as an employer, to arrange work so that employees receive sufficient breaks.
Laptops and tablets should only be used for short periods
Laptops and tablets can lead to ill health if used for extended periods. When the screen and keyboard are attached together or integrated, it is often difficult to achieve appropriate viewing distance, viewing angle and comfortable work postures. This can make it more difficult to vary work postures and working movements.
Fatigue and body pain can occur if employees lack access to a properly designed chair and other furniture and equipment.
The workplace when using computers and screens
Poor visibility and lighting
Remote work can result in poor visibility and lighting conditions. Some lights may be dazzling while other lighting in the home may be too weak.
It is also common for employees to use chairs, tables and other equipment that are not appropriately designed for working at a computer screen. This can lead to ill health if the work is done over a long period of time.
Ensure that the work environment is satisfactory
As an employer, you need to ensure that the remote work environment does not cause ill health.
You need to be aware of physical, organisational and social risks, even with remote work. You may also need to adapt the procedures for investigating and assessing risks and addressing and controlling risks in the work environment. Work together with safety representatives and other employees to identify deficiencies and address them.
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As an employer, make sure that you talk to your employees regularly about how work is going and how they can organise the remote workplace properly.
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Ensure that employees receive sufficient knowledge to be able to detect deficiencies in their work environment themselves and to properly organise their work environment.
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Make sure to enable social contacts between employees, using digital meetings or telephone calls. Agree on procedures for check-ins and other conversations, meeting times and rules for digital meetings.
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Ensure that employees have adequate recovery. This can be done by switching between tasks, changing body position and taking regular breaks. Also keep in mind that employees need to have enough time for their work tasks.
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Visibility and lighting conditions must be good when working remotely. Make sure that the lighting is adequate and does not cause glare or flicker.
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Ensure that employees can work in comfortable work postures and with comfortable working movements, and that they can vary their movements. No single working position is suitable for extended periods of time.
You may also need to supplement the laptop with an extra keyboard and an external mouse or other control device.
The employer is responsible for the work environment for remote work
As an employer, you need to ensure that the physical, organisational and social work environment is designed and organised in an appropriate manner, even for working remotely. This requires good collaboration and regular dialogue between you and your employees. For example, this involves finding out during the dialogue that the equipment the employees use, such as the screen, desk and chair, makes it possible to work with appropriate work postures and working movements.
Employees also need sufficient knowledge to be able to organise their work environment in the best way and to detect deficiencies in it.
If it is not possible to arrange a good work environment remotely
If you as an employer notice that the work cannot be arranged in a suitable manner in the remote environment, you can ensure that the work is carried out in a location that you have equipped with appropriate design and equipment, for example in the office.
Last updated 2025-11-26