As a recession looms and money is tight, many employers are responding by implementing hiring freezes.
Unfortunately, this is occurring in the context of the Great Resignation, meaning some teams have lost people and now cannot replace them due to the hiring freezes. Therefore, existing employees are facing higher workloads.
According to new research from Visier, 53% of employees feel overworked – this increase in workload was having a negative impact on their mental health and anxiety (40%), with 24% reaching their mental limit.
30% of 1,000 UK workers surveyed by Visier feel like they are taking on more and more work; with 23% feeling like they are expected to do so. 32% said their employer expected them to work longer hours or ask their direct reports to do.
Combatting bare minimum Mondays
Ultimately, it is clear that overworking is not good for performance – giving employees more work does not make them more productive, in fact it is the opposite, it leads to burnout and low motivation.
Another Visier report, which analyzed the 17 million employee records in its global database, found that 57% of workers are burnout most or all the time (and the situation has worsened since COVID-19).
This is pushing employees to avoid taking time off (42% have not taken time off for holiday in the past year) – which only makes burnout worse.
Visier’s director for EMEA North Ben Harris tells UNLEASH: “Proving productivity, showing that you’re ‘always-on’ and joining the ‘hustle’ culture have become embedded into the norm of many workplace cultures.
“The challenge with this however is that far too often, the result of reaching capacity and overworking, is falling victim to workplace burnout.”
“Addressing employee burnout is just as important as recession-proofing the business. Employers need to act now to protect and optimize the employee experience or face the reality of another mass talent exodus,” continues Harris.
Visier’s UK research found that 60% of employees have reached the end of their tether and are considering quitting – 40% of these are looking for a better work-life balance.
Unfortunately, many are reluctant to take the risk of resigning in this economy – 67% of employees told Visier the cost of living crisis was causing them anxiety.
Instead, they are embracing resenteeism and bare minimum Mondays to relieve their stress (27%), and because they don’t feel appreciated for their extra work (39%).
Of course, resolving these productivity and burnout challenges isn’t just about reducing workloads. Harris notes: “It’s about sustainably maximizing productivity and nurturing a supportive working environment where employees can thrive.
“Leaders need to use people data to understand how their employees are feeling and engage them in conversations. This includes the importance of taking time off work which needs to be monitored closely by management.”
Beyond paid time off, overworked employees also want a four-day week (39%), an early finish on Friday (31%), flexible working (30%) and proper compensation for their extra work (37%).
The International Festival of HR is back! Discover amazing speakers from the world of HR and business at UNLEASH America on 26-27 April 2023.
Sign up to the UNLEASH Newsletter
Get the Editor’s picks of the week delivered straight to your inbox!
