It is a common belief that workers who work 60+ hours per week are high achievers. A study found that Japanese workers who work overtime are less productive than those from other industrialized nations.
Many business owners worry that restricting work hours could reduce their employees’ motivation to succeed and decrease their productivity. This is a common fear, however, as overworking can lead to exhaustion, a lack of focus, and disruptions in work/life balance. The amount of work done within a set time frame may be more important than the amount spent at work.
You’ll learn why it is important to reduce work hours and give employees breaks. A sophisticated employee tracking tool can be used to make the most of your employees’ time. This will allow you to increase productivity and reduce time spent on work.
Working Overtime May Result in Hidden Costs
Overworking can lead to costly errors and accidents that could impact your productivity and revenue. This is particularly true for workers in light industrial settings. This is especially true for people who are required to be focused and attentive to details. These jobs can be stressful if you are prone to overwork. You will likely spend more time in the office correcting mistakes that you have made because of poor focus or exhaustion.
Instead of encouraging overtime work, create a time-efficient schedule using digital time-tracking software. This software can show you how your employees spend their work time and identify those who are more productive than others. This information can be used to delegate tasks or projects and to distribute workload equally, to avoid some team members overworking and creating unexpected costs.
How employee tracking can help you avoid overworking
Employees who work overtime are more likely to make costly mistakes and end up suffering from burnout. Burnout can be characterized by exhaustion, lack of motivation, and disengagement. These can all impact the productivity of employees and the overall success rate of your company.
A productivity tracking tool can provide detailed information about employees’ productivity, which will allow you to pinpoint the causes of decreased productivity and take immediate action. This feedback can be used to have an open conversation with employees.
You can also use track records to help your employees manage their time and show them how to best use it. This will ensure that they don’t have to work overtime in order to reach their goals.
Fostering a People-First Culture and focusing on Efficiency
Managers often attempt to reduce low productivity by firing underperformers and forcing employees to work harder to reach set goals. This is almost always counterproductive. This creates a vicious circle of employees who are overworked and fail to reach their full potential. They then have to work harder to improve their performance.
Don’t be afraid to offer additional training for those who are struggling with particular aspects of their jobs. To prevent employees overworking and burnout, it is important to put more emphasis on self-care.
Start by encouraging employees to take short breaks, stretch, walk, and to re-energize. Other wellness programs can be created to encourage employees’ self-care.
Last words
Overworking is not a sign of high productivity or quality results. It can lead to frustration and fatigue that could adversely affect employee performance.
You can reduce work hours and teach your employees how to make the most of their time. This will ensure that you have high productivity and avoid overworking.
