The way we work is not effective anymore. Responding to emails, completing data entry and scheduling meetings are all routine tasks that contribute significantly to working stress and fatigue, according to a recent UiPath survey of over 500 office employees in Singapore.
The pandemic has forced employees to rethink their priorities in their careers, which has led them to place more emphasis on the balance of work-life and mental health and fulfilling work. Employees’ stress is amplified because office employees in Singapore are more overwhelmed than ever by mundane tasks. Naturally, repetitive administrative tasks could increase the pressure on employees and anxiety and other stresses resulting from the disease.
Some people find these elements may be their final reason to decide to stay in their job, thereby being the primary driver toward the Great Reshuffle that is taking place around the globe. In conjunction with the challenges of adapting business models and flexible working schedules and employee turnover, it has proved to be a severe problem for businesses.
The Singaporean labor market is slowly recovering, and more workers are beginning to return to work due to the ease of restrictions on the pandemic. Retention of talent and satisfaction of employees remains an issue for companies. The pandemic has forced workers to review their lives and their professional careers, and their needs are constantly changing. The workforce is placing higher demands on its leaders to fulfill their requirements.
Remove the robot from the human.
At the core of the issue, employees are frightened of mundane, monotonous tasks, which make them feel like robotic than they are. The tedious work is not just ineffective. They take away employees’ cognitive energy and leave them little time for meaningful conversations, creative concepts, and creative solutions. People want to feel valued and of their own value. It’s, therefore, no surprise that office workers seek new opportunities elsewhere. Business leaders should rethink the way employees use their talents and time working.
The manual creation of datasets or answering emails is the most common cause of employee discontent and inefficiency. It takes up a lot of time to do more innovative and valuable work. In addition, these activities can cause burnout and fatigue since nearly all (97 percent) employees surveyed said they feel exhausted after their day at least every week. Employers must help their employees ease the strain of routine work to concentrate on the things they excel at and appreciate the most. They can also bring added value to the company, including innovative thinking and excellent customer care.
Employer satisfaction and well-being are a priority within the company.
The turnover of employees often places more pressure on those who remain, and this Great Resignation only exacerbated this issue. Incredibly, 86 percent of office employees in Singapore were forced to take as many as six additional tasks that are not part of their roles because of their colleagues’ resignations which blurs the lines between the roles of each employee. The increased workload and the increasing number of administrative tasks, in addition to an absence of recognition of employees, is a sure recipe for exhaustion. In the end, employees will find an escape route from the organization.
As pressures mount from all directions, many workers are already seeking new opportunities. Three out of four say they are interested in looking into new positions over the coming six months. In addition, three-quarters of office workers in the study are already applying for new jobs and are interviewing at different companies. If employees have their sights on better opportunities and working environments, they will have no motivation to increase the efficiency of their current job, which causes productivity to drop for businesses. Employers should not ignore the satisfaction and well-being of employees simply because they are crucial in retaining the best talent.
Automation can complement the other initiatives to reduce the employee burden.
Automation has been proven to aid in overcoming the problems that are caused by the shortage of workers through the incorporation of automated processes and AI into their operations. However, automation can also aid businesses in addressing the issues with their workforce and help retain employees by providing a better experience for employees and an environment that draws and keeps the best talent. Instead of entering data into Excel or examining datasheets, automation takes the robot from the human and opens up space for more innovative and problem-solving tasks.
It is, however, necessary to take an integrated approach to keep employees satisfied at work since there are a variety of other factors that are at work. One way to do this is to give employees some autonomy at work, which is beneficial and boosts morale. Another method of understanding the needs of employees is to continuously get feedback from them about topics such as hybrid models of working. Leaders of organizations have the opportunity to collect data to make well-informed decisions and ensure that the voices of employees are heard.
The most important thing is that leaders of the organization should be aware that flexibility in the workplace improves employees’ satisfaction as they are in greater control over their time management. They must, in the end, make their workplaces more pleasant and create an environment that draws and keeps the best talent. Employers must be able to make their employees feel empowered and avoid losing their most valuable asset.
