The impact of IT on working conditions (Policy Brief 266 - February 2012)
In this joint report, Centre d’analyse stratégique and the Ministry of finance analyze and suggest proposals on the impact of information technology and communication in working conditions.
Information technology and communication (IT) has evolved significantly over the last fifteen years and has affected our daily lives considerably while sparking an ongoing debate. However, while almost two out of three employees use IT in their work regularly, the impact of these technologies on the job has not been studied.
- The impact of IT on working conditions
The effects of IT on working conditions are often positive because they allow employees to access information more easily and to quickly find solutions that help solve problems. The fact remains that a number of risks exist, including increased work pace and intensity, strengthened activity control that can reduce employee independence, weakened interpersonal relationships and/or collective work. In addition, time and space limits between work and free-time are intermingled, and there are several effects from information overload stemming from an ever-growing use of emails.
Beyond the technological developments, work organization, and productivity, the different cultures and changes in society may also affect these risks. It is therefore important to consider the connections between different types of work organization and IT.
Summary
- IT practices in enterprises are widely disseminated
- IT use may be a risk for working conditions
- The new information technologies that will continue to grow
- Business management and IT: new functioning that is first and foremost technical
- Develop a common uses of IT culture in the workplace: four areas of recommendations
- Authors: Tristan Klein, Centre d'analyse stratégique and Daniel Ratier, Ministry of Finance (Directorate General of Labour)
Press Contact:
Jean-Michel Roullé, Head of Communications
Tel. +33 (0)1 42 75 61 37 - jean-michel.roulle@strategie.gouv.fr
Les ressources
- Policy Brief 258 - The job-creating sectors in the medium term
- Policy Brief 239 - The evaluation interviews
- Policy Brief 231 - "Cross-curricular competencies" and "transferable skills": skills that facilitate professional mobility
- Policy Brief 219 - "Cross-curricular competencies" and "transferable skills": skills that facilitate professional mobility