Techno-Burnout as a System Safety Hazard: A Multilevel Model of the Digital Workplace

Abstract Digitalisation and, increasingly, artificial intelligence adoption are transforming workplaces and increasing psychosocial risks that current occupational safety and health (OSH) systems only partially address. We propose a multilevel model that redefines burnout from an individual issue to a systemic hazard, shifting the emphasis from HR practices to system safety. Combining the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) theoretical framework, academic research and survey evidence, we highlight how features of the digital/AI workplace (algorithmic management, constant connectivity, biometric monitoring, flexibility, digital metrics over human judgment) create a double feedback loop of reactivity (incidents → tighter monitoring → higher demands) and silencing (burnout → under-reporting), which might cause systemic failure. We propose three ideas that position techno-burnout as a key factor in socio-technical reliability, and argue that recognising techno-burnout as a systemic safety risk can shape the governance discourse by examining its implications and suggesting its inclusion in national AI legislation.