Workloads continue to head up sharply, study suggests
If it seems as if you’re working harder than you used to, it’s probably not your imagination. A majority of employees say their workloads have jumped sharply because of the global economic downturn.
79% of employees reported their workloads increased as a result of layoffs at their firm, according to a recent survey by staffing company Right Management. 56% per cent characterized that jump as being "a lot."
Employees at large organizations feel the heat more, with 68% saying their workloads have increased substantially compared to only 33% at small organizations.
Like it or not, most remaining employees have little other choice but to work harder. The current job market makes jumping ship for another position a more daunting undertaking than a few years ago.
But Henryk Krajewski, Right’s national practice leader in Canada, reminds business owners that employees can only take so much.
Overstressed employees don’t usually perform at their best and frantic workplaces can quickly erode morale, damaging even top level workers.
“Management must acknowledge increased workloads and commit to employee development and opportunity during tough times,” he says. “For those who are being asked to step up, give them a sense of choice, and ownership in the direction moving forward to enhance satisfaction and commitment.”
Krajewski offers several suggestions to help employees handle increased workloads, advising them to stay flexible, ask questions and ensure that managers provide needed direction.
That means continually realigning your work according to your manager’s priorities; clarifying any new expectations and roles; developing new skills and capabilities as you go; and constantly reminding everyone how the business is profiting from your new responsibilities.
How are things where you work? Are you being asked to do more with less? Has anybody acknowledged or even noticed your contribution?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Work loads have always been too much... | Jun 18, 2021 7:07:44 AM
Well the economic downturn has nothing to do with the company I work for. There has always been high turnover with my job, and as a result we are constanstly short staffed and pretty much "required" to work overtime because of this. Though I work for a successful company it has poor management and poor organization abilities so low employee morale, nothing to do with the economic downturn...
Posted by: Just Me | Jun 18, 2021 10:16:09 AM
The previous post sounds like something I could have written. Our small company gets more business but the boss won't hire another person. As a result, extra time is being put in and everything is done in a rush. Poor management, poor organization, and poor morale have nothing to do with the economy. It's always been this way here.
Posted by: Working Lots | Jun 18, 2021 10:26:01 AM
I am a one-man show in my company. Because the economy was poor for 24 months, I had to put in extra time by traveling (extra expenses) in order to at least maintain sales from the previous year. This was necessary to ensure I kept my clients somewhat happy. This extra time away from home meant less time with Family. I expect this to continue until Dec 2010.
Posted by: Owned! | Jun 18, 2021 6:14:38 PM
"Krajewski offers several suggestions to help employees handle increased workloads, advising them to stay flexible, ask questions and ensure that managers provide needed direction.
That means continually realigning your work according to your manager’s priorities; clarifying any new expectations and roles; developing new skills and capabilities as you go; and constantly reminding everyone how the business is profiting from your new responsibilities."
In other words, SUCK IT UP, OR SHIP OUT!
It has nothing to do with the economy. I work for an FI and the work load has more than tripled but they refuse to hire yet they are always willing to lay off.
It's about shareholder value and increasing profit margins at any cost.
Sure the OT is great, however; upper management complains of it and prefers the employees take the time off, but if one does, you fall behind and what is the use if you are called upon on your day off.
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 18, 2021 6:38:48 PM
It is absolutely disgusting that these companies can get desperate people trying to hold on to their jobs to work insane hours with insane workloads while giving a pittance for a raise or wage freezes or even cuts to salaries.
You work hard to get degrees, diplomas, certifications and always try to make yourself into a better employee and that is what you end up with.
Despite what economists say and all of these people spending like there is no tomorrow, these are tough times that is for sure....
Jeff
Posted by: Steve | Jun 18, 2021 7:50:00 PM
Employee burnout & dissatisfaction is what follows the results of poor management (overloading staff & not providing a clear long term direction etc). I won't mention BP, but failure to ensure proper management, timelines and workloads are in place, can cost businesses & the staff dearly. The author of the article has recommended that the staff {in essence} suck it up. This is not prudent advice when one thinks of the potential legal implications. Unless of course you're just working in a very menial role.
Posted by: r jone | Jun 19, 2021 12:03:46 AM
lots of changes in the last 2 years. We lost our yearly bonus , which was graduated according to lenght of time with company. Then we lost our company RRSP , which was a percent according to how long with company , then wages were taken away , in some cases as much as 6 dollars an hour. So needless to say moral dropped and some people left. The workload has increased and the pressure is mounting .
Posted by: John Gaul | Jun 20, 2021 8:20:55 AM
How do we all like unregulated, corporate dominated capitalism? Workers have two choices now - become a gerbil running on a wheel or become unemployed through burn out or quitting. Your working conditions, benefits and wages are all being turned into more money for majority share holders and senior managers.
Where is our democratic power to demand better from our governments and through them our corporations?
Posted by: randy | Jun 20, 2021 11:02:08 AM
I started a new job in the same field i have been working in for years, after 2.5 weeks on the job I already feel burnt out..not a good sign
Posted by: Mark | Jun 20, 2021 11:34:07 AM
The demands for our work are becoming so high absentism is begining to rise more people are complaining about repetitive injuries.Where I work we have 20 minutes for lunch and to go to the washroom . If you become too illto work they make you stay at work. They say if you are sick stay at home ,just try it. We have holidays if you you can get them as there is no man power to cover you most of the time. Job standards are a magical bar that moves in the companies favour realistic or not.I worry as an aging member of the work force as I can no longer jump through corporate hoopslike I could when I was twenty or thirty. We just hope we don't get , cast aside before we get to our retirement, which is another worry will our pensions be there ? They are the new bargaining tool of the modern world. The noose is getting tighter around the workers neck to make the shareholders rich in the shortest time possible. Be thankful you got a job is what you get if you complain.