Workplace trends: Technology increases workplace stress

Office World News, Oct 1999

Kensington Technology Group Survey Reveals Office Employees Feel the impact of More Stress On The Job

SAN MATEO, CA-Technology is a double-edged sword that enhances workplace productivity at the cost of increasing stress on workers, according to a survey released by Kensington Technology Group, a cross-category leader in the design and manufacture of computer accessories.

The Kensington Stress & Technology in the Workplace Survey, which queried 501 adult U.S. full-time, traditional and home-office workers, uncovered new statistics on technology's relationship to stress, steps employers are taking to reduce stress, and how stress affects personal lives. The study is part of ongoing workstyle and workspace research the company conducts to better understand consumer needs.

The survey found that 55 percent of workers feel more productive at work compared to last year. Nearly half of the workers surveyed, however, said technology increases stress, and 51 percent of them reported that the possibility of losing documents due to computer crashes causes them "a lot" or "some" stress. The demands of email and voicemail have also contributed to an overall increase in stress in the last year, according to the survey.

"Adjusting to new technologies-like the Web, networks, personal communications-that have saturated today's workplace is creating new demands on workers, and that's causing more stress;" said Odette Pollar, president of Oakland-based Time Management Systems and authority on stress in the workplace. "The question is how to make technology work in our favor without compromising our health and well-being."

EMPLOYERS TRYING TO COMBAT EFFECTS OF WORKPLACE STRESS

As workplace stress increases, employers are taking steps to combat its effects on workers. Nearly half of people surveyed said their employers support a work-life balance. Forty six percent report they have access to benefits like flexible work schedules, telecommuting options, or compensation time.

But while employers seem to recognize the importance of work-life balance in reducing stress levels, the same does not appear to be true for workspace organization. While four out of five workers surveyed think that disorganized people tend to have more stress in their lives, less than one-quarter said their employers take steps to ensure their work area is designed and optimized for comfort and organization.

Regardless of the cause of stress in the workplace, a majority of workers believe that stress-related problems have tremendous financial implications for their employers. In fact, similar studies show that stress-related problems cost American companies an average of $750 per employee per year, which for a company with 50 employees, can mean nearly $40,000 a year.

"This survey shows that it is equally critical to the employer and employee that workspaces be designed to support a high degree of organization, comfort and personalization," said Tom Russo, vice president of sales and marketing with Kensington Technology Group. "Kensington uses research such as this survey to continuously improve our workspace products and best meet the constantly changing needs of today's workers."

WORK STRESS HAS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PERSONAL LIFE

Ironically, the study found that attempting to maintain work-life balance increases stress at work, and that increased stress negatively affects time spent with the family. The survey found that 54 percent of workers feel that trying to maintain a work-life balance is a great source of additional stress at work. More than half of workers surveyed (57 percent), report the amount of stress in their lives affects the quality of time they spend with their families "somewhat" or "a great deal."

The survey also revealed that most workers make a direct connection between workplace stress and accidents or illnesses. The majority of those surveyed agreed that stress is a leading cause of accidents and mistakes in the workplace (78 percent), and that people who experience a great deal of stress have higher absenteeism (76 percent]. Workers also believe that high levels of stress cause or exacerbate illnesses. The majority of people surveyed (74 percent) agree that threefourths of all illnesses seen in medical practices are caused or made worse by stress.

Despite the negative effects of stress, which range from on-the-job accidents to adverse impact on personal lives, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of all workers feel there is nothing that can be done about stress-that it's something people have to get used to.

Pollar, author of Take Back Your Life, Smart Ways to Simplify Daily living, disagrees. "There are many things one can do to avoid unnecessary stress at work," he said. "Taking breaks, staying organized, and performing an ergonomic assessment to maximize the comfort of your workspace are just a few simple ways to reduce stress in the workplace."

For more than 18 years, Kensington Technology Group has set the standard in computer accessories. The company's commitment to understanding an individual's changing computing environment-whether it's at the office, at home, on a plane, or elsewhere-drives development of a broad line.of innovative accessories that enhance comfort and productivity. Kensington stands behind its more than 300 productseverything from trackballs and mice to carrying cases, media storage, keyboard drawers, wrist pads and more-with impressive warranties. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, Kensington Technology Group is the technology platform of ACCO Brands, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. Visit www.kensington.com.