Feeling like the ‘work’ part of your life never stops and there’s no end to the list of tasks you’re expected to get through? You’re far from alone.
You could be yet another ‘overwhelmed employee’, according to Bersin by Deloitte partner and founder Josh Bersin, and part of a growing challenge for employers worldwide.
“It’s the issue of too much work, too many emails, too many phone calls, and the fact people are afraid to disconnect,” he tells Women’s Agenda.
And it’s an issue that can be especially problematic for women, given women are generally still managing the bulk of the domestic and caring responsibilities at home, regardless of the hours they’re putting in at work.
Visiting Australia from the US to share research and data regarding the major trends affecting HR in 2014, Bersin says that the ‘overwhelmed employee’ is an emerging priority for business, up there with more traditional people issues like leadership and employee retention and engagement.
He believes organisations can help counter the issue by supporting flexibility around the hours and locations that an employee works, while also offering strong annual leave and sick leave policies. “We have to accept or convince business leaders that a company will work just as well if people are taking some time off or taking some time to help their personal life,” he says.
Giving employees more autonomy over their work will also help, and assist in attaining and retaining the best talent available. He believes younger employees in particular are now looking for more diverse, dynamic and autonomous environments where they can apply their talents.
“Employers have to build an environment that attracts people, not one that retains people,” he says. “I think there is a lot of desire, particularly amongst younger people to work in creative environments, to start their own thing, to have more opportunities for travel.
“Employers have to accommodate the fact that if they aren’t developing people fairly rapidly, and offering new assignment and opportunities, then they’ll lose people. If you’re a high performer and you’re on linkedIn and other social networks, employers will find you.
High performers are more mobile now.”
Bersin drew on his own experience running his research and advisory firm to demonstrate how long the technology has been available to offer more flexibility and autonomy to employees. His employees worked their own hours and in their own time as far back as 2001, in a virtual model that proved successful for the firm.