The key to a thriving, profitable business is engaged employees. But keeping your employees focused and healthy can be quite the challenge. Here are four of the most common stressors in the modern workforce:
Outdated Technology
It's hard for employees to keep up with modern times when they're working on old technology. From a computer that crawls at a snail's pace through web pages to machinery that's inefficient—outdated technology can be a frustrating workplace experience. If left for too long, tech issues could lead to retention problems for your company.
Lack of Resources
Engaged employees who want to exceed expectations need the tools and resources necessary to achieve the company's goals. If your company does not provide adequate access to resources, then employees can quickly become frustrated. It's good to empower employees with the ability to acquire necessary resources, like software or research reports, with minimal bureaucracy.
Long Commute Time
Although the national average commute time is less than a half hour, travel time alone doesn't take into consideration all commuting factors. Employees who need to pick up and drop off their children are experiencing extended travel times. Factors like traffic, weather, and construction can have unexpected impacts on the daily commute to the office.
According to this article, long workday commutes have negative effects on a person’s mental and physical health, including feelings of frustration, high blood pressure, backaches, and anxiety. If possible, flexible work hours or work-from-home arrangements may be a good solution to this problem. When employees can choose a better, less stressful time to commute to the office, their productivity may increase.
Uncomfortable Work Environment
While each person's needs are unique, creating a workplace environment that is optimal for comfort and focus is key to reducing workplace stress. Depending on job requirements, employees may need a quiet room for research or highly technical tasks. On the other hand, employees who want to interact with colleagues or need to have face-to-face meetings will benefit from conference rooms or gathering spaces.
It's important to provide your employee's with adequate privacy as well. Some employers think that constant monitoring their employees is a good idea, but by empowering employees to be autonomous, you may get a better result. At the very least, you'll have a less stressed population of workers.
Adjusting for the Modern Workforce
The modern workforce benefits from being dynamic and responsive. Modern technology has made it possible for many jobs to be done from remote locations, making the office environment less critical to company success. By understanding the issues facing the modern workforce, you’ll be able to adjust to their needs and attract high-quality candidates to your company.
For more updates on trends in the workforce or for help finding great candidates, reach out to us at Transformify. We’re your one-stop shop for all your hiring needs.