of people are interrupted over 5 times per hour
of workers feel highly overworked
of employees agree that taking breaks would make them more productive
of workers check email during dinner
of workers feel significant stress about the ever-present pressure of work email
of employees are not engaged and have “checked out”
For some companies, the most prominent concern is around issues of quantity. They can’t get enough headcount. The sheer amount of daily work is overwhelming. Forces have been reduced by layoffs and consolidation.
In such an organization, you hear hallway comments such as “There’s just too much work to do.” and “If only we could get more people.”
In a quality-compromised organization, the highest value work begins to slip, and excellence is replaced by “getting by.” Those with a commitment to elevated standards are forced to choose between deadlines and thoroughness.
In a quality-threatened organization, you’ll hear comments such as “I wish I had time to deliver my best work.”
Lastly, organizations suffer in the area of sustainability. They may be holding on by their fingernails to the amount of work, and the quality of work, but collectively doubt the longevity of the model. Top talent may be looking toward the door.
In sustainability-pained organizations, we hear one thing over and over: “We can’t keep this up for much longer.”
