While many organisations are diligent about managing DSE risks during business hours, the impact of excessive screen use outside of work often goes unnoticed. From late-night scrolling to gaming marathons, these habits can exacerbate eye strain, fatigue, and musculoskeletal issues — ultimately impacting productivity and increasing absenteeism rates.

At the same time, it’s important to recognise that how employees spend their downtime is a personal choice. Employers shouldn’t overstep by trying to control behaviour outside work hours. However, there are thoughtful, respectful ways organisations can support healthier screen habits — both during and beyond the workday — to promote overall wellbeing.

Here are 6 practical ways employers can encourage healthier screen habits once workers have clocked out for the day.

1. Educate Employees About Cumulative Screen Time

Whether it’s streaming, gaming, or social media scrolling, personal screen time often adds to several hours of exposure each day — and smartphones can be particularly problematic.

Smaller screens encourage closer viewing distances, which makes the eyes work harder to focus. Over time, this cumulative strain can contribute to fatigue, disrupted sleep, and reduced focus at work.

Employers can help by raising awareness of how work and leisure screen use interact. Consider incorporating guidance on the risks of prolonged phone and tablet use into your DSE training or wellbeing resources. 

Simple posters, short videos, or internal newsletters can highlight early warning signs — like blurred vision, dry eyes, or neck stiffness — and share tips for healthier habits, such as increasing text size, holding devices at eye level, and taking regular breaks.

By educating staff on the full picture of screen-related strain, you help them to make informed choices about their screen use — and reinforce your commitment to a healthier, more productive workforce.

2. Encourage Clear Boundaries Between Work and Leisure

When the line between work and personal time blurs, employees often feel pressure to stay connected long after the workday ends. Over time, this “always-on” culture not only increases stress and burnout but also extends total daily screen exposure — compounding eye strain, fatigue, and poor sleep.

Employers play a key role in setting expectations that protect personal time. Start by implementing policies that discourage out-of-hours emails and non-urgent messages. Clear guidance helps employees feel confident in logging off without guilt.

You can also promote practical tools to support better boundaries. For example, encourage staff to use “Do Not Disturb” features on their devices or to set working hours in their email clients. 

Managers should lead by example — avoiding sending messages late at night and respecting employees’ time away from screens.

3. Offer Eye Health Resources

Employers can make a real difference to employee wellbeing by providing access to trusted eye care information and professional support. Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations, employees who use display screens have the right to request an eye test, which the employer must fund.

Consider arranging webinars or lunchtime talks with optometrists or ergonomics specialists, giving employees practical advice on reducing eye strain, setting up their workstations correctly, and spotting early warning signs of vision problems.

As part of your wellbeing programme, you could offer eye test vouchers or direct reimbursement for eye examinations and, where required, the cost of basic corrective lenses specifically for DSE use. Not only does this encourage staff to prioritise their vision health, but it also reinforces your commitment to creating a supportive and safe work environment.

4. Share Simple Home Screen-Use Tips 

Addressing some of the known leisure time screen-use behaviours in your DSE programme can have a significant impact on cumulative exposure.

Here are some of the most common at-home screen habits, why they’re harmful, and expert-backed tips to help mitigate the risks:

• Scrolling immediately after waking up

Looking at your phone first thing in the morning is jarring for the nervous system. This instant exposure to social media, emails, news, etc. can trigger our fight-or-flight response.

When repeated, this behaviour can set high alertness as our default state, increasing baseline feelings of stress and anxiety.

Tip – No phone use whatsoever for at least the first hour of each day.

• Scrolling before going to sleep

Scrolling on phones or tablets before bed can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle. Blue light emitted from screens suppresses melatonin production, which delays sleep onset and reduces sleep quality. 

Additionally, engaging with social media or emails at night can increase mental alertness, making it harder to unwind.

Tip — Limited screen use for at least an hour before bedtime.

• Using screens in low light environments

Viewing screens in dimly lit rooms forces the eyes to work harder to focus, increasing eye strain and causing headaches or discomfort. Poor lighting also makes it easier to develop bad posture as people unconsciously adjust to see better.

Tip — Encourage employees to use adequate ambient lighting when using screens at home, especially in the evening, to reduce strain.

5. Integrate Broader Wellbeing Initiatives That Indirectly Support Healthy Screen Habits

Instead of focusing solely on screen use outside work, employers can introduce holistic wellness programmes that address underlying factors affecting screen habits — such as sleep hygiene, stress reduction, and mental health.

For example, offering workshops on improving sleep quality can gently encourage employees to limit evening screen time, while mindfulness or relaxation sessions can help reduce the impulse for late-night scrolling or gaming.

This approach respects employees’ autonomy by supporting their overall wellbeing rather than trying to regulate specific behaviours, fostering trust and engagement while still promoting healthier habits.

6. Invest in Comprehensive DSE Support

Healthy Working — our DSE Risk Management Software — is a comprehensive solution with features that deliver benefits in and beyond the workplace:

• Customisable eLearning: Tailored content addresses individual needs. This personalisation ensures that employees receive relevant information to manage their screen time effectively, both during and after work hours.
• Integrated Self-Assessments: Employees can assess their own ergonomic setups and screen habits, fostering a proactive approach to health that extends into their personal time.
• Real-Time Feedback and Support: Features like stretching exercises, smartphone applications, and hot-desking advice provide continuous support, helping employees maintain healthy habits during leisure time.

Get a free trial of Healthy Working for up to 5% of your workforce — or contact Cardinus today to discuss your DSE needs.