Team and the cause of work pressure
High workload occurs when there is not a good balance between the time you have available and the work you have to do. Managers often make plans based on available hours, minus a margin for consultation and communication, etc. The time that remains is then scheduled with activities and tasks. In itself a good and logical way of planning, but a number of things often go wrong.
- Firstly, it often happens that too little time is scheduled for the various tasks.
- Employees are not always consulted when making plans, so they cannot assess whether the estimate is correct.
- However, what goes wrong much more often and poses a latent danger in many organisations is the 'perception' of work pressure.
- On paper and in practice, you may have more than enough hours to complete your work.
- Yet it is often the case that employees experience high work pressure, even though this does not exist purely based on planning.
- Especially when employees have many different tasks, the perception of work pressure can increase quickly.
- A very long to-do list full of tasks is daunting and causes stress.
- Other common causes of work pressure include not being able to say 'no'.
From work pressure to work stress
If the high workload persists for an extended period, you may experience work-related stress. And that's when things go wrong! Ultimately, this will negatively impact your job satisfaction and likely also negatively impact the atmosphere in the workplace.
This work stress makes people feel like they have to rush to get everything done. Logically, this results in us being less attentive, making more mistakes, and becoming irritated much more quickly.
Besides all these consequences, it can also be very detrimental to your health. You can suffer physical and mental health problems as a result.
In short, workload is a factor you need to keep a close eye on in your department. Being busy isn't a problem, but work stress is always lurking.
If the workload is too high, absenteeism will skyrocket. By the time this happens, you're already too late. Employees will have less energy and motivation, increasing the risk of accidents. This will ultimately lead to lower results for your company.
What can you do about excessive workload?
Both you as an employer and the employee themselves have a responsibility when it comes to managing workload.
For employees
As an employee, it's crucial to be able to manage your workload. How do you do this?
- The most important thing is to be realistic with yourself.
- Don't take too much on your plate and dare to say no.
- A little bit of stress is beneficial for your productivity, but as soon as you start to feel tired or dread starting your day, alarm bells should start ringing.
- Also take sufficient breaks during your working day and stop in time.
- The longer you work, the more tiring it becomes and the greater the chance of burnout.
- One last tip: take a break at the end of the workday take a moment to list everything you have done and what you still need to do. So end the day with this for yourself, so that you know what you can work on the next day/week.
For employers
As an employer, you also have an important role in monitoring the workload in your organization.
- You determine the schedules and therefore have a great deal of influence.
- It is obvious to simply give an employee with work stress fewer tasks.
- Yet, as crazy as it sounds, that is not the solution!
- Research has shown that people with a perception of work stress are not immediately helped by having fewer tasks.
- It is precisely important to give new energy to the employees concerned!
- How? For example, by involving colleagues who will support the stressed employee.
- Do not take tasks away from the employee, this will lead to negative motivation.
- He or she may then get the idea that they are 'unfit'.
- Small things also help enormously, such as input into a decision, input into the planning, or a compliment.
- Flexible working hours can also help, especially if a lot has happened in your employee's private life.
FAQ
Question: How do I know if we're just busy or if it's work stress?
Short answer: Busyness is often temporary and manageable; work stress arises when high workloads persist for an extended period and you experience noticeable symptoms. Signs of work stress include constantly rushing, less attention, more mistakes, becoming irritated more easily, and less job satisfaction. It can also lead to physical and mental complaints and ultimately to higher absenteeism. In short: busyness is okay, but if it's persistent and affects your energy, motivation, and health, it's work stress.
Question: Why doesn't simply removing tasks from someone experiencing work stress help?
Short answer: Because work stress often stems from the perception of workload and a lack of energy resources, not just from the number of tasks. Eliminating tasks can trigger negative motivation ("I'm not suitable") and doesn't address the underlying feeling. It's more effective to add energy resources: organizing peer support, providing input on decisions and planning, giving sincere compliments, and offering flexible working hours where appropriate.
Question: What makes the workload sometimes feel high, even though the schedule shows there are enough hours?
Short answer: The perception of workload increases particularly with a wide variety of tasks and long to-do lists, especially if employees have little say in scheduling or struggle to say no. Even with sufficient hours on paper, the combination of task changes, unclear priorities, and a lack of influence can make the pressure feel high. Workload, therefore, has both a quantitative aspect (time vs. tasks) and a qualitative aspect (how tasks are experienced and organized).
Question: What can I do immediately as an employee to better manage my workload?
Short answer: Be realistic about your capacity, set boundaries, and dare to say no. Take plenty of breaks and stop in time; working continuously will make you more tired and increase the risk of errors and failure. Recognize warning signs such as fatigue or starting reluctantly. Consciously end your workday by briefly noting what you've accomplished and what still needs to be done, so you can start the next day feeling focused.
Question: What is the role of the employer in preventing excessive workload?
Short answer: Employers actively manage workload by involving employees in planning and by strengthening their energy sources. Instead of immediately taking tasks away, enlist team support, offer input on decisions and planning, provide appreciation, and create flexible working hours where possible. This maintains motivation and reduces the chance of workload turning into work-related stress.