Tackling employee burnout in The Great Reshuffle

THE way we work is not working anymore. Replying to emails, data entry, and scheduling meetings - mundane tasks like these play a significant role in workplace frustration and exhaustion, according to a new UiPath survey on more than 500 office workers in Singapore.

The pandemic has pushed employees into reconsidering their career priorities, placing greater importance on work-life balance, mental health and meaningful work. The pressure that employees are feeling is only compounded by the fact that office workers in Singapore are feeling more bogged down than ever by monotonous tasks. Understandably, monotonous administrative tasks can amplify employee unhappiness and uncertainty in addition to other stressors resulting from the pandemic.

For some, these factors can even be their last straw in deciding to stay in a job, thus being a key driving force towards the Great Reshuffle around the world. Coupled with the difficulties of adapting business models and flexible working arrangements, employee turnover has since proven to be an acute business challenge.

Although Singapore’s labour market is gradually recovering with more employees starting to return to the office in light of easing pandemic restrictions, talent retention and employee satisfaction remain a pressing issue for businesses. The pandemic has caused employees to reevaluate not only their lives but their careers, and with evolving needs, employees are placing greater expectations on their leaders to meet their demands.

Take the robot out of the human

At the heart of the matter, employees dread the routine, menial tasks that make them feel more robot than human. Not only are monotonous tasks unproductive, they drain employees of their mental energy, leaving little room for meaningful interactions, innovative ideas and creative solutions. Employees want to be of value - it is no wonder that office workers are seeking opportunities elsewhere. Business leaders should reconsider how employees are dedicating their skills and precious time at work.

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Tasks like manually creating datasets or responding to emails are the top reasons for employee frustration, as they leave little time for more creative, higher-value work. Furthermore, these tasks can contribute to employee fatigue and burnout, as almost all (97 per cent) office workers surveyed say they feel exhausted at the end of a work day at least once a week. Organisations must support employees to alleviate these frustrations arising from mundane tasks, so that they can truly focus on things they do best and enjoy most that bring value to the business, such as innovation and customer service.

Make employee satisfaction and well-being an organisational priority

Employee turnover often puts increased pressure on those who stay, but the Great Resignation has exacerbated this further. Alarmingly, 86 per cent of office workers in Singapore have had to take on up to six new tasks outside of their job descriptions due to their co-workers resigning, blurring the distinctions between each employee’s responsibilities. Greater workload and mounting administrative tasks, along with a lack of employee recognition, undoubtedly creates a recipe for burnout. Eventually, employees will find a way out of the organisation.

With pressures coming from all fronts, most employees are already looking for new opportunities, with three in four expressing interest in exploring new jobs in the next six months. More significantly, a third of office workers from the survey are already applying for new roles and interviewing at other companies. When workers have their sights set on better opportunities and environments, they have little motivation to maximize their productivity at their current jobs, causing business output to suffer. Businesses must not overlook employee well-being and satisfaction, simply because they are fundamental to retaining talent.

Automation can supplement other efforts to ease employee burden

Automation has proven to help solve the challenges caused by the labour shortage by incorporating automation and AI into their processes. But automation can also help businesses solve the workforce gaps they’re experiencing and support retention efforts by creating a better experience for employees and an environment that attracts and retains top talent. Instead of entering numbers into Excel or reviewing datasheets, automation actually takes the robot out of the human and creates bandwidth for more creative, problem-solving work.

That said, it requires a holistic approach to keep employees happy at work, as there are many other factors at play. One aspect is to grant employees some independence at work, which can be empowering and effective to boost morale. Another way to understand employee needs is to constantly gather feedback from them, on topics such as hybrid working models. This gives organisation leaders the platform to gather insights, in order to make informed decisions while making sure that employees’ voices are heard.

Above all, organisation leaders must understand that workplace flexibility facilitates employee satisfaction as they have greater autonomy over their time management. Ultimately, they need to create a better experience and environment that attracts and retains top talent. Employers need to empower their employees, or risk losing them - their best asset.

The writer is senior vice-president and managing director for Asia-Pacific and Japan, UiPath