Overloaded and Under Engaged – Tech and Emails are Turnoffs

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04 February 2020

UK office workers are wasting 1.8 billion hours a year due to mediocre technology and employees are increasingly disengaged from their colleagues and employers as they ignore internal communications.

 

This information comes from an Insight survey of 2,000 UK office workers conducted in the summer of 2019.

The survey also showed that more than a third (34 per cent) of employees said that not being equipped with the right technology makes remote and flexible working difficult and stressful.

In total, 80 per cent of office workers, at some point, have felt they don’t have the technology they need to do their jobs properly putting them at a disadvantage.

 

Comms

 

And it would seem employees are being flooded with irrelevant information that makes them disengage from their employers and colleagues. The research showed that less than half (47 per cent) of the information employees receive from inside their organisation is relevant to them. Along with that, 60 per cent of employees ignore internal communications until it’s brought to their attention.

 

"Technology in the workplace that cannot help streamline communication, keep employees engaged and support a healthy work-life balance is not fit for purpose.”

– Emma de Sousa

UK Managing Director, Insight

Other key findings include:

• On average, workers say they waste 2.4 hours per week because they don’t have the right technological support, thanks to unnecessary travel or having to work inefficiently.
• The average office worker misses information 4 times a week and more than a third (38 per cent) miss important or useful information at least once a day – meaning they have to work harder just to keep pace with information.
• Only 53 per cent of office workers say that internal communications are effective – meaning many employers are not engaging with their employees in the right way. 

 

User preferences

 

“In 2019, employees shouldn’t be complaining that technology makes their lives harder,” said Emma de Sousa, UK MD at Insight. “Businesses should strive to keep workers informed and involved, however, company information and updates are being ignored as a result of information overload. In contrast, as a consumer you have access to a wide range of technology and devices where information received and shared is tailored based on the user preferences –  businesses need to take the same approach."

 

Poor training

 

Insight's research has also found that technology is frustrating employees’ efforts to work closely with their colleagues. The average UK office worker suffers delays or an impact on the quality of their work three times a week because collaboration with co-workers is too difficult.

One simple reason for technology frustrations is that employees often aren’t given the training or education they need. A staggering 77 per cent of office workers have been given technology and apps without being told what benefit they would bring or how to use them at some point. This means employers may well be making the technology investments their employees need, yet falling at the final hurdle.

 

Staff retention

 

With 71 per cent of office workers dissatisfied with the technology in their workplace, they may begin to look elsewhere.

“The world is changing; for many," continued Emma de Sousa. "Work is no longer a specific place; it's something you do. People want to work when and where they want. They expect employers to provide a technology experience that enables – rather than hinders – this. If this isn’t embraced, all sides will suffer – from workers who are increasingly frustrated with their employer to businesses that suffer lost productivity and find it harder to attract and retain employees.”

 

Picture: UK office workers don't feel they have the right technology to support their jobs and are disengaging from company communications because of 'overload'.

 

To read Insight’s report 'Are UK Businesses Creating the Modern Workplace or Falling at the First Hurdle?' – Click Here

 

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 04 February 2020

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