Burnout and Job Satisfaction: Why Technology Could be at the Center
When it comes to burnout and employee well-being, technology is more important than you think.
Intuitive tech solutions empower a synergistic technology relationship, mitigate burnout and encourage employees to collaborate and innovate, says Mike Whitmire, co-founder and CEO at FloQast.
In the era of hybrid and remote work, technology is more critical to business success than ever before. Between its ability to keep us connected to our co-workers, its role in helping employees churn out work at consistent rates, its capacity to automate tasks, and many other value adds, it’s become nearly impossible to conduct business operations without a slew of different tech tools.
However, with many tools on the market, finding the one that works best for your employees and your processes can be a daunting task that organizations can’t afford to get wrong. According to a new study from FloQast, tech tools can directly impact levels of employee burnout, well-being, work-life balance, and company success. The level of influence a tech tool holds lies in employees’ relationship with the tools themselves.
Employees and Their Technology: A Workplace Relationship
The study found that, beyond the technology itself, there are three key ways an employee relates to their tech tools:
- Adversarial relationships where technology is seen as a hindrance rather than a help. Roughly ⅓ of accountants surveyed report having an Adversarial relationship with their technology.
- Routine relationships where technology is functional but doesn’t add value to their work or life. Roughly ⅓ of accountants surveyed report having more of a Routine relationship with their technology.
- Synergistic relationships where technology is a true partner in the accountant’s work. Roughly ⅓ of the accountants surveyed enjoy a Synergistic relationship with their technology.
The study also found that, within each of these three categories, employees experience various levels of burnout, find more success in their work, can sustain their work-life balances differently, and more.
The impact of tech relationships on burnout
Over the past few years, we’ve seen burnout run rampant through the workforce, regardless of industry. However, earlier this year, FloQast released findings that showed the accounting sector is suffering greatly – almost all (99%) of accountants have experienced some burnout over their careers.
The latest study sheds light on which individuals have been experiencing the most burnout and why. In the end, it boils down to technology. Those with Adversarial relationships were shown to have the highest burnout scores. 73% of those with Adversarial relationships reported average to high levels of burnout, compared to just 25% of those with Synergistic relationships and 49% with Routine relationships. Technology can play an essential role in managing burnout, and as we dig deeper, it’s clear that tech tools can impact employees in companies in myriad ways, too.
See More: Employee Burnout Is the New Pandemic: How Can You Support Your Employees?
The impact of tech relationships on work-life balance and job satisfaction
While the survey showcased the impact of technology relationships on burnout, it also uncovered how technology relationships impact employees’ well-being and personal lives.
For instance, accountants with Synergistic relationships have personal lives that are less often negatively impacted by work — 1.5 fewer months than those with Adversarial relationships and 1.2 fewer months than those with Routine relationships – and have higher satisfaction levels in various aspects of the job, including personal competence, career potential, work-life balance, and income.
Since technology plays a distinctive role in boosting overall job satisfaction, work-life balance, and productivity, looking closely at technology relationships could not be more critical – especially at a time when so many are experiencing burnout and are feeling disengaged with work.
See More: Transforming Work and Life with a Dynamic Blend of Big Ideas
The impact of tech relationships on the organization as a whole
In addition to revealing the impact on employees, the survey also revealed how a company could benefit or suffer due to technology relationships.
It was found that accountants with a Synergistic relationship are less likely to make errors that necessitate reopening the books, and, therefore, they negatively impact financial performance less often. Accountants with a Synergistic relationship reopened the books in 1.4 fewer months than accountants with an Adversarial relationship and 0.7 fewer months than accountants with a Routine relationship.
It’s clear that, within the accounting industry, a better relationship with technology is not only crucial to employee satisfaction and well-being, but also has implications for the organization as a whole. Especially as the American economy has experienced a tumultuous few years, investing in technology that supports employees and produces greater accuracy is incredibly important for companies.
How to Develop a Synergistic Relationship
As our workforce has been through a tumultuous few years, developing a synergistic relationship between employees and the company is paramount. The trick? Implementing integrated technology systems designed with the end user’s needs, skills, and thinking in mind.
First and foremost, implementing integrated technology systems is critical to developing these harmonious relationships. However, an integrated technology system is not enough on its own. Companies must also ensure that these systems are designed to mirror how employees work, think, and operate and are deployed purposefully. When this happens, accountants are more likely to believe they can complete their work on time and, as a result, are more likely to sustain a Synergistic relationship with their technology. Accounting professionals with a Synergistic technology relationship are 2.6x more likely to believe they have enough time to complete their work than professionals with an Adversarial relationship and 1.6x more likely than professionals with a Routine relationship.
Overall, it’s clear that the technology designed with the end user in mind, in conjunction with integrated tech solutions, can empower a synergistic technology relationship, mitigate burnout and encourage employees to collaborate and innovate.
A Synergistic Future
Accounting has always been a demanding career path. However, as burnout amongst accountants has jumped significantly in recent years, primarily due to the pandemic, economic volatility, shifting work/life balance, increased competition in business environments, and numerous other factors, creating a sustainable and productive technology relationship is a timely issue that affects professionals across all industries and leaders on all levels.
It’s time to implement technology tools that help teams manage their workload more efficiently and quickly and are designed with the goals, needs, and interests of employees in mind. When we embark on this journey, we’re far more likely to see Synergistic relationships become the norm and, in turn, create a workforce of happy, productive, engaged employees.
How do you think technology-friendly workplaces can improve employee well-being and productivity? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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