5 Signs Your Employees Are Overworked and How To Help Them
Publié le 26 September 2022
Stress and burnout are affecting too many people. As a company leader, you help by learning 5 signs your employees are overworked and how to help them.
How many times have you read “I work efficiently under pressure” or “I handle tight deadlines exceptionally well” on your potential employees’ resumes?
Probably a lot.
These are the answers to some of the typical job interview questions. And that’s no surprise, as our corporate culture is obsessed with the concept of pushing yourself to the limit.
Even the lingo in competitive industries reflects this trend so that almost everyone talks (or rather, brag) about “hustling,” “grinding,” and “going big or going home” in their LinkedIn posts.
But instead of the efficiency and productivity that such a mentality promotes, this glorification of hard work results in stressed and overworked employees.
A recent survey by Deloitte has shown that 77% of workers in the U.S. have experienced employee burnout at their current job. Besides posing a health hazard for employees, overworking also takes a toll on their productivity.
Finally, employees’ long hours and overworking can backfire and hurt your company’s bottom line.
So, with all that in mind, let’s discuss 5 signs your employees are overworked and how you can help them.
5 Signs Your Employees Are Overworked
- A drop in productivity
- Employee absenteeism and presentism
- Sleep deprivation
- Poor work-life balance
- Intense emotional displays
1. A Drop in Productivity
When you notice that your once outstanding employee starts missing deadlines, making way too many mistakes, or doing a bare minimum, it’s a clear sign that they’re overworked or even on the path to burnout.
The odds that someone will all of a sudden start slacking off after having been an exemplary employee for a long period are very slim. So, there has to be a logical reason for such a change in their work ethic and performance.
According to a Stanford research study, productivity per hour starts plunging when someone works more than 50 hours a week. After the threshold of 55 hours a week, their productivity drops to such an extent that working after that can only be counterproductive.
So, before you blame your employees for their lack of motivation, try looking at the bigger picture and checking how many hours they have been clocking in.
Solutions
First of all, it’s crucial to regularly check in on your employees and ask them whether they can handle their workload. They must know that the workplace has an open-door policy, and there will be no repercussions for acknowledging that they do not have the resources to complete their current workload.
Here’s what else you can do to help your employees be more productive:
- If you notice your employees regularly work long hours or weekends, make sure to analyze your work processes and find a way to outsource and automate some low-level tasks.
- Instead of celebrating the culture of overwork, start normalizing and even incentivizing breaks. Provide a break room and make it appealing by adding refreshments and snacks.
- Set an example by taking time off. If you keep on working non-stop, your employees will be under the impression that taking breaks or vacations is frowned upon by the management.
2. Employee Absenteeism and Presenteeism
Increased absenteeism among your employees is a clear sign that something is wrong. The same goes for presenteeism, that is when employees come to work although they shouldn’t because they’re sick or indisposed.
So, if your employees start calling in sick, showing up late, or dragging themselves to work even though they can’t be productive, they might be overworked and stressed out.
In some cases, employees will be under such pressure and unable to handle their workload that they will call in sick only to have some rest or decompress.
Solutions
Absenteeism costs employers on average $2,000 per employee per year.
And while this issue has to be addressed, you shouldn’t take the punitive approach as it will additionally aggravate an already tense situation.
Being constructive is the right path, so it’s critical to keep the lines of communication with your employees open and make them feel appreciated and supported. Encourage your team members to talk to you and raise any potential issues they might be experiencing.
Besides that, providing them with the right tools, equipment, and resources to help them do their job goes a long way.
For example, getting comfy shoes for those who stand all day or ergonomic office chairs for those who sit for long periods of time will definitely make their lives infinitely easier and prevent work-related health issues.
Such workplace health initiatives work both ways. Employees will feel much better, while employers can see a 27% drop in absenteeism and cut health-care costs by 26%.
3. Sleep Deprivation
Stress and anxiety caused by overwork and a toxic work environment often result in insomnia.
A study from 2018 found that stress caused sleep deprivation in 66% of U.S. workers.
The sleep-loss epidemic can have serious health consequences since increased cases of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity have all been linked to the lack of shut-eye. The damage is not only physically, as both mental and emotional well-being can be drastically affected by a lack of sleep.
In addition, employees who toss and turn all night won’t be able to focus on their tasks, and their overall productivity will suffer. Plus, the risk of making errors is more likely in sleep-deprived people, which can significantly diminish their work performance.
Employees who operate vehicles or work machines pose an even greater threat since they’re prone to so-called micro-sleep episodes during which they lose responsiveness. In other words, they might lose control over the vehicle while driving and cause an accident.
Solutions
There are several things you can do to help your employees sleep better.
- Introduce a no-work-emails-outside-work-hours policy, which may already be legally required in your area. People get stressed when they get an after-hour email and feel that they have to respond immediately. This leads to anxiety and disrupts their sleep.
- Arrange for a wellness expert to instruct your employees about proper sleep habits. Everyone can benefit from learning about the importance of a good night’s sleep and getting some tips for overcoming sleep issues. Also, a wellness expert can help your employees pick a high-quality mattress that suits their specific needs, as it’s another essential factor that contributes to better sleep.
- Designate rest areas where your employees can relax and unwind while at work. Some companies even allow nap breaks, as research has shown that dozing off for 30 minutes can actually increase productivity.
4. Poor Work-Life Balance
Overworked employees have a poor work-life balance.They feel as if they can’t take time off to be with their family or enjoy pursuing their hobbies.
Every day to them seems like running on a hamster wheel, and naturally, this will take a toll on their physical and mental health.
Remote work additionally complicated this issue since many employees bring professional activities to their personal places. As a result, it’s hard for them to separate their business and private lives.
Work-from-home fatigue is a real thing, and it can also lead to overwork and burnout. Help your employees learn different techniques for building a better work-life balance, and separate their personal and professional lives.
Solutions
By encouraging your employees to recharge and improve their work-life balance, you’ll get yourself a happy and motivated workforce.
- Train your team to manage the workload when one of their co-workers has a day off.
- It’s important to let your employees know that it’s ok for them to take some time to be with their kids or attend family events. Given that 39% of U.S. workers feel guilty and pressured over taking days off, such encouragement will help them stop worrying.
- A healthy and balanced diet plays a vital role in combating burnout. Offer your employees healthy snacks to boost their energy levels. You can even go the extra mile and provide nutritionally balanced meals or free weekly meal plans for those seeking a bit of guidance when it comes to eating habits that work for them.
- Flexible scheduling can be a great idea if your employees work from the office. Such an arrangement gives them a certain degree of autonomy when organizing their work day. They can come later, have time to run personal errands, and still work their 8-hour shift.
5. Intense Emotional Displays
When you notice that the atmosphere in the workplace could be cut with a knife, the odds are your employees are overworked, in distress, and fed up with their job.
Red flags include heightened emotional displays, heated arguments, or employees on the verge of tears. Although all this could be considered unprofessional, your employees are just human, and when there’s too much on their plate, it’s very difficult for them to keep their cool.
If it seems that even the slightest misunderstanding or issue could push them off the edge, then it’s high time you did something about the toxic workplace that’s making your employees miserable. Ask your employees what can be done to improve the atmosphere, and turn their feedback into actionable plans.
Solutions
- The first step is to talk to your employees openly and honestly and get to the bottom of what’s making them so frustrated. You’ll most likely unearth that they’re swamped with work and unable to handle it.
- Setting realistic goals and deadlines can prevent such unpleasant scenarios. When your employees can manage their workloads and know they can reach out to you for help, their stress levels will drop.
- Some empathy can do wonders and make your employees feel they have been heard.
Conclusion
Remember that your employees are one of your most valuable assets, so make sure to treat them accordingly. If your employees are overworked and burnt out, their performance, morale, and motivation will suffer. All this will, in turn, will hurt your bottom line and earn you a reputation as a bad employer. By know the 5 signs your employees are overworked and how to help them, you will be able to take immediate action to improve things. The result will be happier employees and a better workplace.
