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How Screen Use Affects Employees and Productivity

November 5, 2026 · Marianne Skaaland Larsen

As a business leader, you know that employees who spend time on screens before bedtime may have a reduced ability to sleep well. When they pick up their phones to check social media or news, it can lead to a delayed bedtime, which in turn affects their productivity and well-being at work.

Screens can impact sleep through several mechanisms: light, notifications, emotional content, and time displacement. This can result in higher absenteeism and lower work performance. A 2021 study showed that 30% of employees reported poor sleep quality related to screen use in the evening.

Blue Light Is Just One Part

Although blue light from screens can affect circadian rhythms, it is not the only factor at play. A systematic review of the effects of blue light filtering glasses has shown varying results. This indicates that there are multiple factors influencing sleep quality. Reducing brightness and using warmer color temperatures may be sensible, but it does not address the underlying behavior that leads to reduced sleep.

How to Design for Better Sleep

To promote better sleep quality and reduce stress among employees, leaders can implement simple measures:

By making these changes, companies can create a culture of awareness around sleep and well-being, which in turn can reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.

Implementing the StoppStress Program

StoppStress is an 8-week digital stress management program that uses memory reconsolidation to help employees manage stress and improve sleep quality. Through the Harmoni app, employees receive personalized AI guidance and tools that can reduce stress-related absenteeism. Companies that have implemented StoppStress have reported a reduction in absenteeism of up to 20% in just a few months.

Do You Want to Improve the Work Environment?

Visit stoppstress.no and learn how to implement StoppStress in your organization to support employees in managing stress and promoting better sleep.

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Do You Want to Reduce Absenteeism in Your Company?

The StoppStress program uses memory reconsolidation to provide employees with lasting tools against stress. Read more at stoppstress.no →

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Ready to take control of stress?

Create your account on the web first. Then use the same login in the app.