As our workplaces continue to evolve and transform, the boundaries between digital and physical workspaces are becoming increasingly blurred. This European Week for Safety and Health at Work (21-15 October 2025) invites us to pause and reflect on what it means to stay safe and healthy in this new digital era.
This year’s theme, “Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age”, highlights both the opportunities and challenges brought by the pace of digital transformation – from flexible working and automation to AI, hybrid communication, and the ever-present digital tools that enable us to connect and collaborate at speed.
We can all attest to the fact that digitalisation is reshaping the workplace, not just by creating opportunities, but also by introducing new risks and challenges for employees such as isolation, increased pace of work, and fear of being left behind by AI. While digitalisation has brought convenience, connectivity, and innovation, it has also introduced new psychosocial consequences. The constant flow of information has blurred work-life boundaries, and social interactions through screens can impact focus, identity and wellbeing. Understanding these dynamics is essential to creating health digital workplaces where people can thrive.
Exploring the Cyber Psychology of Digital Wellbeing
As part of this important week, Thrive and the Institute's Members team hosted a
lunchtime webinar on cyberpsychology with Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, who shed light on the myths and realities of screen time, social media, AI, and wellbeing. The session explored how online spaces affect and shape our identity, behaviours and wellbeing and delved into key questions such as:
- How does online communication influence how we see ourselves and others?
- What are the psychological effects of constant connectivity and digital fatigue?
- How can individual and organisations build resilience and balance in an always-on culture?
Through this discussion we were reminded that digital wellbeing is not just about managing screen time – it’s about understanding how digital environments shape our emotions, relationships and performance.
Building a safe and health digital future
As we look ahead, fostering digital wellbeing must remain a shared responsibility. Organisations can promote a safer digital culture by:
- Encouraging healthy online habits and boundaries.
- Designing systems that support focus, privacy and autonomy.
- Promoting open conversations about digital stress and overload.
- Providing training on digital literacy and responsible technology use.
By embracing these principles, we can ensure that digitalisation empowers rather than overwhelms – creating workplaces where technology enhances wellbeing, not hinders it.
Let’s use this European Week for Safety and Health at Work as a reminder that a truly healthy workplace is one that protects not only our physical safety but also our digital and psychological wellbeing.
Thrive is the Institute's wellbeing hub that provides access to a range of free wellbeing supports. For more advice or information, contact the team by email at:
thrive@charteredaccountants.ie or by phone: (+353) 86 0243294.
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