On any given day, I receive dozens of emails from my boss, fellow managers, my team, clients, and others. They come at me in bunches, and they never let up. Sound familiar? It could be leading to “employee overwhelm.”
In order to keep pace with this flood of information, I tend to read and answer these messages as soon as I receive them, no matter where I am or what time it is.
I know this inability to disconnect isn’t healthy for me, and it’s not good for my family. It often takes me “out of the moment” when I’m home with them. But I feel like I have no choice. If I don’t respond right away, the sheer volume of information leaves me feeling overwhelmed.
Here’s what employee overwhelm looks like in numbers:
If this problem sounds familiar, that’s because it’s growing increasingly common. A recent article in The Atlantic noted that one estimate pegs the number of emails sent and received worldwide in 2015 at about 200 billion. It also indicated that business people send and receive 122 emails per day.
Add to that the constant distraction of instant messages, social media, and other sources of information bombardment, and it’s no wonder people feel that their work lives are spinning out of control.
The Atlantic article quoted a new Deloitte survey of 7,000 human resources professionals in which 65 percent of respondents said they were concerned that their organizations were too bureaucratic and complicated. “And yet, only 18 percent of those professionals said they were actively helping employees to deal with information overload at work,” the article said.
As a manager, I take such statistics extremely seriously. I know these problems have the potential to affect all kinds of employees, whether they work regular hours in an office, shift their schedules through flexible work plans, or telecommute.
But how can a supervisor know when an employee is starting to feel overwhelmed?
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Here are 6 warning signs to keep on your radar:
1. A worker keeps calling in sick—whether he’s ill or not.
People who are feeling overwhelmed at work may see those feelings manifest themselves in actual physical illness. But even people who aren’t under the weather may call in sick if they’re feeling overloaded. This may be especially hard to detect if it’s affecting a remote worker or someone who has flexible hours, so be sure to watch for problems and follow up when someone is sick.
2. A regularly dependable employee suddenly freezes into inactivity.
You have a “rock star” on the team who always exceeds your expectations, setting a great example to her colleagues and managing stress like a pro. Then, suddenly, she starts missing deadlines, avoiding projects, and struggling to prioritize and complete tasks. When a top performer freezes, she’s likely feeling overwhelmed.
3. Your team member starts to pull away and becomes disengaged.
According to an Everyday Health article, “Disengagement at work often leads to avoiding co-workers, missing meetings, and shirking responsibilities,” which could signify that a worker is feeling overwhelmed. “Another sign you’re in need of some serious stress relief? Your co-workers start asking you if you’re all right.”
4. A worker gets angry quickly and snaps at colleagues.
Most people have moments when they get a bit, shall we say, impatient with co-workers. But the Everyday Health article points out that people who seem to suddenly develop a short fuse, lash out at others, and carry their anger home with them may be feeling overwhelmed. Again, you’ll only detect this problem in flexible workers if you’re communicating regularly and effectively.
5. Your employee complains that he’s always tired.
The emotional exhaustion that comes along with feeling overwhelmed can also make people physically tired. If you notice that someone who is usually energetic is showing signs of fatigue, it’s time to ask questions.
6. A team member exhibits feelings of despair at work.
A Helpguide.org article outlined some of the warning signs related to this problem, including a “sense of failure and self-doubt,” “feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated,” and “decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.”
Fortunately, a good manager can not only spot these problems when they start to pop up, but can also take steps to help alleviate them.
Check out these tips to help spot employee overwhelm, and tips to alleviate it:
The Atlantic article talks about organizations that are finding solutions by turning to “design thinking“—”a problem-solving method based on observing how workers go about their days, instead of how employers want them to go about their days.
This approach has led companies to change their policies in small ways. Some executives and managers have been discouraged from sending emails on Friday afternoons, weekends, or after hours. And GE has tried to let employees simplify their workdays by giving them the power to skip meetings as they see fit.” Such seemingly minor changes can have a huge impact on employee happiness and engagement.
Flexibility is another tool companies can use to help workers feel less overwhelmed. For example, someone who starts the day stressed due to a long and challenging commute might benefit from a shift to more flexible hours. Or someone who gets distracted by all of the information thrown at him while he’s in the office may benefit from an occasional work-from-home day that allows him to focus.
As the problem of employee overwhelm grows, it will be up to managers to develop tools to help fight it. The good news is that, as they come up with solutions for their workers, they might end up helping themselves, too.
At least, I hope that will be the case.
Find out more about the benefits of flexible work.
What are some other signs of employee overwhelm? What else can companies do to fight this problem? And how has flexibility helped alleviate these concerns for your business? Please share your ideas in the comments section.
Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com
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