CareerBuilder Survey Reveals that Majority of Workers Are Burned Out
July 18, 2008
This week, CareerBuilder released the results of its “worker burnout” survey. It appears that downsized staffs, paired with increased workloads, are creating a rise in workplace stress levels. The survey, which polled over 7,600 workers nationwide, found that a whopping 78 percent of workers report feeling burned out at work.
Current worker burnout seems largely attributed to three interrelated factors: work overload, lack of a work/life balance, and lack of a flexible work schedule.
Case in point:
* Forty-six percent of workers said their workload has increased over the last six months
* Approximately the same percentage (45 percent) describe their current workload as heavy or too heavy
* Almost a quarter of workers surveyed (23 percent) say they are dissatisfied with their current work/life balance
But there is a silver, more Zen-like lining. Over half of the workers surveyed (54 percent) also said that their company offers flexible work arrangements to help alleviate stress and promote a work/life balance - and two-thirds said they are taking advantage of at least one of the benefits offered. Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder, gives employers advice on managing stress and securing flexible work arrangements.
What can we learn from this? As mentioned previously, the current gas crisis is leaving many employees feeling stressed - and looking for solutions. Staff decreases and workload increases give employers yet another reason to consider allowing their employees to telecommute, work four-day work weeks, have a “summer hours” schedule, or otherwise creatively work with employees to make their work/personal lives peacefully mesh (and save them some money on commuting costs as well).
If you can work with your employees to come up with a solution you’re both comfortable with, they will be ever-so-grateful - and it will likely show in the quality of their work.
- Categories: Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, Employer Advice, Going Green, Survey Results
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