Signs That Your Employees Are Overworked

How to tell if an employee is being worked too hard is a legitimate question. Dependent on the employee, it’s possible to demand more and more until the workload becomes unreasonable. Yet, employers can fall into the trap of overworking their best employees.

Employees must be treated as unique individuals. The amount of work they can take on is dependent on behavioral type, requirements of the job, and the individual’s family situation, age and health status. Not all employees can take on the same amount of work, and they may not be bold enough to tell their employer that they need a bit of a break. These are some of the signs that your employees have too much on their plate.

Heightened Emotional Displays

When you encounter someone who’s crying or upset due to the pressures of the job it is very likely that they are overworked.  The result can be sleep disruption, increasing difficulties with family members, and more workplace drama.

If formerly rational employees seem more on the edge, you may want to look at workload as a possible cause. Those who have a strong need to please may overcommit due to a fear of rejection or failure and become resentful, and even aggressive if they feel that their hard work is undervalued.

Limited Personal Life Time

If the description “married to my job” seems to be fitting more and more of your employees, that is a huge sign they’re overworked.

Pay attention to when your employees arrive at and leave from work. If you see an increase in hours, it may be time to examine your employees’ workload.

If you hear that employees are missing family obligations because they feel they cannot take time from their jobs, you’re likely looking at an indicator that your employees feel overworked.

High Employee Turnover

Are you seeing a lot of new faces? Losing your best employees?

If you are experiencing higher levels of voluntary turnover (especially with key talent) it is important to note that talented employees who are motivated and ambitious are normally eager to take on additional or time-consuming assignments. However, if those same assignments cause issues with meeting their family obligations, not receiving promotions, or feeling undervalued, they may decide to move on.

Decreased Customer Satisfaction

When employees don’t serve customers well, it may be a sign of being stretched to the breaking point. Or it could be passive resistance to company conditions. Keeping the lines of communication open may help you learn what’s going wrong and why.

Overwork causes diminishing returns. As employees work longer, they gradually work more unproductively on tasks that are increasingly meaningless. Increased output can create expensive mistakes, while accidents decrease with those who take enough time off.

Negative Colleague Relationships

When cliques develop in your office, it can mean not everyone is sharing ideas. Resentment can build among team members who feel left out, and even possibly lead to isolation and burnout. When things get tough, do people tend to start throwing around blame? It can happen, but it’s  not good for your team.

Your employees are the backbone of your company, and it’s important that you treat them as such. Make sure that your New Mexico Business Insurance program has protection for both you and your employees against workplace exposures.

About Daniels Insurance, Inc.

At Daniels Insurance, Inc., we have a unique understanding of the risks that businesses like yours face on a regular basis. With the backing of our comprehensive coverages and our dedication to customer service and quick claims resolution, your business will be fully protected. For more information, contact us today at (855) 565-7616.