Many of Canada’s small businesses rely on modern technology for a reason: it enhances their operations.
Over 47% of the current and aspiring entrepreneurs surveyed by RBC found emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, crucial for exploring new ways to work and tapping into new markets. They also highlighted the usefulness of digital solutions for streamlining various business tasks and facilitating remote operations to reduce overhead costs. These benefits are especially crucial given today’s inflation and rising costs.
However, the digital workplace also has its drawbacks. Modern office tasks require frequent device use, which can easily lead to excess screen time. The CBC notes that over 10 million Canadian adults experience evaporative dry eye disease as a result, and that can significantly affect productivity. Toronto-based small business owner Pedram Mousavi, who runs a luxury auto detailing studio, particularly notes that the condition caused dryness, redness, and irritation that negatively impacted his ability to work. These eye conditions can affect not just you but the people you hire, as well. Aside from reducing business productivity, they can lead to otherwise preventable eye injuries that increase absences and may lower overall well-being and job satisfaction.
Are you looking to avoid all these outcomes as you run your small business? Consider these tips for upholding employee vision health in the digital workplace.
Improve office ergonomics
Ergonomics is the science of comfort. You may have heard of it in relation to neck, back, and joint pain, with accessories like chairs, wrist rests, and computer mice specifically designed to prevent workplace injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. However, some strategic ergonomic adjustments can also keep employees from experiencing eye discomfort in the office. The key elements you need here are good lighting, high-resolution monitors, and indoor air quality (IAQ).
If you can’t place workspaces by windows for natural lighting, use warm white bulbs that can help employees clearly see. You can diffuse them with filters so they’re not too harsh. Ensuring they use high-resolution computer monitors, like the Odyssey and AW3225QF from Samsung and Titan, also means employees won’t strain their eyes looking at blurred screens. Finally, though it doesn’t seem like it, IAQ is crucial for vision health. Dusty, mouldy, or dry air can irritate the eyes and dehydrate them further, which is why it’s worth using the proper HVAC filters and cleaning them regularly. You can also look into leveraging humidifiers in the summer, especially if you work out of a smaller space that doesn’t use a full HVAC system.
Expand vision care benefits
A Specsavers survey finds that, due to factors like cost, one in four Canadians haven’t had their eyes checked for over a decade. If your employees uphold similar habits, eye conditions can creep up on them and affect their well-being and work performance before they know it. You can help make things easier by covering the costs of regular eye exams. Providing as little as $75 for annual tests can encourage them to get their eyes checked more frequently and ensure peak vision in the office. You can then extend that coverage to the cost of corrective aids, especially for employees who get a prescription after an exam.
With a little research, you can connect them with eyewear companies where they can buy glasses at a discount. Clearly’s catalogue exemplifies what you should look for: with a range of both its own affordable models and more designer frames from the likes of Ray-Ban and Michael Kors, employees can easily shop everything from prescription to blue light-blocking lenses suited for device use. The brand then facilitates further price cuts using FSA and HSA funds. You can help employees open such accounts to improve their access to such retailers. These steps can help them better avail themselves of the eye care products and services they need, so that their vision is less likely to affect them as they work.
Encourage more screen breaks
Finally, a surefire way to prevent poor vision health in the digital workplace is to simply motivate your employees to take more screen breaks. Small business owners like yourself will have more freedom to set vision-friendly policies, so experiment with both unique and expert-recommended methods your employees can try. One research-backed tip you can have them follow is the 20-20-20 rule. It involves resting the eyes every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, which allows the eye muscles to recharge so they don’t get fatigued.
Want to try something different? Holding walking meetings rather than traditional or virtual ones can be a great opportunity for everyone in the office to take a break from their computers and stretch their legs. As an added bonus, the government finds that these meetings can boost energy, creativity, and resiliency. They’re great for small groups, too, making them especially ideal if your small business needs to do some brainstorming.
