Workplace

If you have a high level of interaction with patients, students, clients or the general public in your work, you might be at much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. And, if you also have poor support at work, it could worsen your odds further.

If you need an excuse to turn off the laptop over the weekend or rein in overtime, scientists have linked working extended hours to changes in parts of the brain linked to emotional regulation, working memory, attention and decision-making.

A study of white-collar workers has found that men who experience work stress coupled with a job that requires high effort for low reward are at double the risk of developing heart disease, having a similar impact on heart health as obesity.

A five-year trial in Iceland exploring the effects of a shorter working week is reporting positive outcomes. The results suggest cutting just four or five hours from a work week can lead to increases in worker well-being and improvements in productivity.

New research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests employees are more engaged and less fatigued when given the freedom to take brief, impromptu "microbreaks" whenever they feel the need throughout a workday.

​It's no secret that jobs which involve a lot of bending, twisting or reaching can cause debilitating injuries. Sometimes, though, it's hard to remember to do those things the right way. The wearable Kinetic Reflex is designed to help workers in that regard, by alerting them to unsafe postures.

Claiming almost 10 percent of lost days of work in Germany are due to lower back problems, researchers are developing CareJack, an orthopedic prosthetic embedded with flexible, smart electronics to ensure those lifting heavy loads don't have to go home early.

Researchers have published a paper that suggests we are not as ethical as we imagine we are.

Dilbert, the syndicated satire of workplace life, is the most photocopied, faxed and e-mailed comic strip in the world. Dilbert turns 20 this month, and a book/online resource has been created to celebrate the occasion.