Repetitive tasks causing widespread boredom in workplace

23/05/2017

British workers have revealed that tedious and repetitive daily tasks are just two of the factors leading 45% to report that they are affected by boredom at work.

In a new study from CV-Library, 24% say they are bored every day, with a further 19% bored on a weekly basis.

The main reasons for boredom were also revealed by the research, with 27% frustrated with doing the same thing every day and 22% saying they simply dislike their job. A further 17% say their daily tasks are tedious, with 14% stating there’s not enough for them to do.

Eight per cent revealed their boredom stems from working alone.

Ramifications

Unfortunately for business owners, boredom in the workplace can create a major headache.

Job satisfaction and enjoyment are major factors behind the productivity of individual employees and entire teams. However the adverse impact of boredom in the workplace can be even more far-reaching, with 54% of those surveyed admitting to seeking employment elsewhere.

“With so much of our adult lives spent in work, ensuring that you get passion and enjoyment from your career is of paramount importance,” explained the managing director of CV-Library, Lee Biggins.

“Prolonged boredom in a job can lead, very quickly, to burnout, low productivity and inevitably a high turnover of staff for businesses, so it’s extremely important that each and every employee in a company feels engaged in their day-to-day work.”

This isn’t necessarily a new issue for employers to contend with. Back in 2015, the Investors in People Jobs Exodus survey revealed 57% of UK staff were considering changing their job, which was up by 10% on an annual basis.

In other news…

As the merits of zero-hours contracts remain under the spotlight, the BBC has revealed it expects the government-commissioned inquiry into controversial working practices to recommend that employees on zero-hours contracts will be given the right to request a move onto fixed hours.

Backed by the Confederation of British Industry, it is expected to work in much the same way as the current right to request flexible hours – for example after having a child – and employers would have to give serious consideration to such requests and provide their reasons for the decision they reach.

There are currently an estimated 900,000 UK workers on zero-hours contracts – up from 143,000 in 2008. They formed a major talking point during the last election, when Labour criticised the coalition for failing to keep the numbers in check, arguing they were bad for employees.