Others, however, are located in departments that are physically dispersed throughout the organization, so they often work more closely with other employees. Recent research on occupational health and safety has been concerned with the hazards to physical and mental health posed by new types of office equipment. Studies have found that word processors and data entry keyers who work full time on video terminals experience musculoskeletal strain, eye problems, and stress. Repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, may also affect typists, word processors, and data entry keyers. Employment Typists, word processors, and data entry keyers held about 1,238,000 jobs in 1992 and were employed in every sector of the economy.
Some workers telecommute.
That is, they work from their homes via personal computers linked by telephone lines to those in the main office. This enables them to type material at home and almost instantly produce printed copy in an office miles away. Four of every 10 typists, word processors, and data entry keyers held jobs in educational institutions, health care facilities, law offices, and firms that provide business services. Among the latter are temporary help agencies and word processing service bureaus. One in four worked in government agencies at various levels.