New report warns of risk of presenteeism due to flexibility
Offering flexibility has been touted as a strong measure to improve work-life balance, but employee wellbeing can't be improved if poor workload management continues.
This is according to a recent white paper from Randstad, which looked into the shifts in talent expectations across Asia.
The white paper found that overwhelming workload is the top reason why employees have poor work-life balance, and not being in the office constantly.
"When workloads become unmanageable, the impact on work-life balance far exceeds the inconvenience of being office-bound," the paper read.
"When an employee has too much work with limited or no support, they are more likely to either sacrifice their personal time and mental health for work, resulting in burnout and eventual resignation."
Presenteeism due to flexibility
In fact, the report found that working from home can potentially reinforce the culture of presenteeism across Asia, as driven by various factors.
"Excessive virtual meetings and poor communications can lead to employees spending more time complete their work," the paper read.
The fear of missing out on promotions, project opportunities, as well as pay increments amid remote work also drives presenteeism, according to the report.
"As such, employees often feel compelled to come back online after working hours when they see an email or message from their managers to show their dedication to the job.
What can employers do?
According to the paper, business leaders cannot overlook poor workload management.
They should also take the lead in addressing the culture of unnecessary overtime, as well as in improving communication skills and processes in a remote workplace.
To address the problem, the paper offered the following tips:
- Limit workers' overtime hours
- Look out for burnout
- Make performance assessment transparent
Randstad went in further on the recent shifts in the workplace, and how leaders can navigate them, in this white paper.
