Ever changing technology raises stress levels at work

Constantly changing technology is causing employees to become less efficient and unhappy at work, research from Toshiba claimed this week.

According to The Productivity Myth report, 86 per cent of respondents said that the level of IT skills required by their staff had increased in the past three years, with 58 per cent reporting increased stress levels as a result.

The study of 150 directors conducted by the Bathwick Group also shows that 68.2 per cent of those surveyed see employee enthusiasm as the single greatest impact on productivity, with just under a half of respondents recognising the need for a change to a more flexible way of working.

Despite this, 78.3 per cent of businesses reported an increase in productivity expectations of senior managers after IT investment. These companies were also three times more likely to report net increases in staff turnover.

Alan Thompson, managing director at Toshiba Information Systems, said: "Businesses are constantly being told they're not investing money in IT, so they panic spend. They buy technology that only serves to automate the existing business processes of their company, which puts staff under immense pressure to produce more. They confuse faster with better and the spiral continues," he said.

The research reports that products and services now exist for businesses to make working conditions more flexible for their staff. Working remotely or from home can lead to less travel and lower costs, and can reduce stress, it claimed.

Based on the research, Toshiba has developed a top 10 list of the do's and don'ts for increasing the productivity of IT. Recommendations include: increasing staff training on new technology, providing flexible working methods and remote working technology for employees, and recognising employee enthusiasm as the most important factor in productivity.

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