Too Much Work Pressure Reduces Productivity and Efficiency
Increasing work pressure may reduce the efficiency of the workforce and may even compel employees to leave work when they are not able to sustain the pressure anymore. Claire McCartney, resourcing and talent planning adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has suggested it is high time bosses take a step to resolve these critical issues.
The CIPD’s latest quarterly Employee Outlook survey has found that the mood of the workers has changed for the worse in the last six months. Six months ago, only 38 percent workers had said that they face unreasonable work pressure. However, now 42 percent of the recently surveyed 2000 workers have said that world-related has been increasing and that they are victims to it either daily or once or twice a week. Further, the job satisfaction score was +46 two quarters back, which has now come down to +37.
When workers started losing their jobs with the onset of the economic recession, those still working were plain happy to be employed. This is the reason why they did not mind the pressure put on them to increase production.
However, the situation is very different now. Bosses are forcing workers to meet very high targets, and the workers are being bullied by line managers as a result of the recession. A large number of employees have reported surging levels of stress at workplace and conflict at work. This “excessive pressure” is taking a toll on them.
Taking about the situation, Claire McCartney said bosses should interact and cooperate with workers to ensure that they do not lose their stamina and motivation to work. She pointed out that if work pressure forces workers to leave their jobs, the economy will face great problems once the situation improves, as the supply of good workers will be slackened.
McCartney stressed on the importance of training front line managers in such a way that they know how to manage and encourage workers rather than exerting unsustainable pressure on them to meet deadlines.
