Having predictable time off helped reduce stress and keep employees happier both in general and with their jobs specifically, according to research.
Part of the problem for many stems from the proliferation of mobile devices, which make it easy for them to stay at least partially on the job anytime, anywhere. The result is that many workers find it difficult to take their minds completely off of work, even when they are trying to relax. Research shows that many individuals in the modern work environment spend hours each week checking up on email and voicemail, even during their official off hours, Human Resource Executive Online reports.
Efforts to combat this trend by improving efficiency may result in more work getting done in the same amount of time, but do not typically help people reclaim their time off, according to one researcher. At the same time, they do tend to cost employers time and money. These problems affect some industries and individuals more than others, but are a growing issue.
To counteract this trend, which is adding to workplace stress and dissatisfaction, it may be prudent to adjust workplace culture to create more predictability and avoid creating unreasonable expectations concerning work hours.
Planning time off impacted team dynamics
Researcher Leslie Perlow found that creating predictable time off had interesting effects. She and her team worked with a consulting firm to ensure that every employee in a team got one planned night off each week, with the result that employees in participating teams reported significantly higher job satisfaction and were more likely to remain at the company in the long-term.
Clients remained as satisfied or more so with the work performed by these teams, and workers showed signs of collaborating more effectively as a group to accomplish their goals. Overall hours spent working decreased significantly. The end result was that workers were able to discuss their personal needs with each other more openly and help their teammates reach those goals while balancing the team's workload, according to Perlow.
Stress and fatigue can have a variety of effects on people both personally and professionally. They may work less efficiently, be less happy and satisfied with their jobs, or even be more likely to develop physical as well as mental health issues. That is part of the reasoning behind some wellness programs. Employee benefit consultants and HR experts may be able to help firms best establish practices that promote workers' health and enable them to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
