Susana Llorens Gumbau
In the most advanced countries, the impact of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) at the workplace is nowadays a reality. ICT is on the increase in most productive sectors, such as in the service sector, in production and in all functional areas of organisations. Data from the Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) (Dhondt, Kraan, & van Sloten, 2002) indicate that 34{20a60b73a1cda07ce2433237b967754d6e53d5d16fc2e14f7e109f91f7e5e586} of all workers use computers, while 36{20a60b73a1cda07ce2433237b967754d6e53d5d16fc2e14f7e109f91f7e5e586} report no use technology in their work, as opposed to the use of machine technologies (21{20a60b73a1cda07ce2433237b967754d6e53d5d16fc2e14f7e109f91f7e5e586} of workers) or machine technologies combined with computers (9{20a60b73a1cda07ce2433237b967754d6e53d5d16fc2e14f7e109f91f7e5e586}). These data are similar to findings reported by the Third European Survey on Working Conditions in 2000 which revelas that 41{20a60b73a1cda07ce2433237b967754d6e53d5d16fc2e14f7e109f91f7e5e586} of all European employees use computers at work (Paoli & Merllié, 2001). According to Dhondt et al. (2002) The Netherlands has the highest use of machine technology and computers (around 70{20a60b73a1cda07ce2433237b967754d6e53d5d16fc2e14f7e109f91f7e5e586} of the work force), while Spain is nearly at the other end of the spectrum with about half of its workers using technologies.
