Rising bills caused by inflation and staff shortages are having a long-lasting effect on this British population in the last year, which is organisations need to make sure their employee’s wellbeing is a priority. Generally, most people spend a huge portion of their lives working and have experienced stress to varying degrees. It can be overwhelming, especially as the cost-of-living crisis in the UK has taken a hard hit on people’s livelihood. Rising bills caused by inflation and staff shortages are having a long-lasting effect on this British population in the last year. That’s why in today’s world of work, the last thing people need is stress-inducing jobs, without the proper resources in place.
According to a 2021 study by HSE, stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health cases. Typically, employees are expected to learn how to support themselves and ‘deal’ with it or, their organisation does not have access to the right tools and support. However, technologies, such as automation, has redefined this old school of thought.
Instead, organisations need to take a deeper look at the way company culture, and also the tools, technology and procedures are affecting employees’ happiness and wellbeing. It’s no wonder 99% of UK decision makers have implemented automation technologies in the last two years since the pandemic.
So, what are some of the ways organisations can help employees de-stress at work?
Digital competence matters
Employees are far less happy with their company’s digital competence since the pandemic, as people have become accustomed to an efficient way of working from home. Younger employees want to work for a company that is innovative, forward-thinking and provides next generation tools. An ABBYY study found 61% of digital natives under 35 said company processes and technologies made their job more challenging compared to only 36% of those aged 55+. This shows that it is crucial to understand which technologies can improve productivity and where it will have the most impact.
Companies are realising that employees need to be equipped with the tools and technologies that can enable them to do their best job. This is why they are investing in the technology that matters. In fact, Gartner estimates that by 2024, 75% of large enterprises will have four or more low-code development tools for IT application development and citizen development initiatives.
Organisations are keen to keep up with the changing times. They are offering programs and training that will upskill their workers with the new artificial intelligence (AI) tools being introduced. When employers invest in their employees, they will see their business thrive – after all, the greatest investment an organisation can make is in their staff.
Placing wellbeing on the roster
In a world of resignations and spikes in job turnover, it’s clear that employees are not settling for less. This is particularly true for Gen Z and millennials, who would rather quit their jobs than be unhappy in it. It’s clear that there’s a greater emphasis on working at a job that is meaningful and fulfilling.
But not everyone has the flexibility to quit their jobs. The cost-of-living crunch weighs heavily on the British population, and the last thing people need is work-related stress to add to the mix. That’s why, employers have a huge role to play.
By investing in automation technologies, robots can take on the mind-numbing, admin-heavy tasks so that employees can focus on the work that matters to them. In doing so, employees will feel happier at work and can be more productive.
99 problems but automation isn’t one
Employees want to better their careers by focusing on productive, meaningful tasks. Mundane, repetitive tasks that can be automated butare not is problematic for many reasons. They have become a hinderance to employees and have become a root cause of their stress. Not only do they eat away at an employee’s work-life balance but sifting through piles of data in documents may not be considered the most productive use of their time.
Employees want to better their careers by focusing on productive, meaningful tasks. The good news is the pandemic has resulted in many organisations accelerating their digital technology adoption plans by three to seven years, with 38% of IT decision makers having implemented three to four automation projects over the last two years. ABBYY’s research also found 99% of UK IT decision makers have implemented a form of automation technology in the last two years, while pre-pandemic, 1 in 6 (15%) UK businesses had no automation plan in place.
This is a refreshing turn of events and is the result of the pandemic, great resignation, and need for a better work-life balance. People’s expectations for what they want and need from their employees has evolved. Our research found that when decision makers implement technology for their workforce, the results are bountiful. This is why, 93% UK decision makers have been more successful in deploying technologies in the last two years, compared to 63% pre-pandemic.
The more businesses put people first, the more we will inevitably witness successful UK automation implementations and better employee productivity.
Tips for measuring employee sentiment
Ultimately, employees want to be heard when their concerns are raised or when they’re feeling stressed. A manager asking subordinates about their feelings on work won’t always unravel the truth – it will heavily depend on their relationship.
One way to support employees is by carrying out internal surveys. Stress is commonly built-up overtime, and in the typical British polite fashion, it is not something employees communicate up front. Surveys can gauge sentiment, gather feedback, and get a true picture of what’s happening among employees – especially in a hybrid model where physical signs can be easily missed. It can be a real eye-opener.
Let’s listen to employees and what they want. An overlooked reason behind the Great Resignation trend is people leaving to set up their own company, with the Business of Formation Statistics showing a large increase in the number of applicants since the start of the pandemic. Listening to new suggestions and being receptive to change is crucial.
Overall, people’s expectations for what they want and need from their employees has evolved. Technology and automation can bridge that gap and help employees of all ages improve their role and alleviate stress. It’s down to businesses to make that investment.
