Employee fatigue is a big problem for employers

Doing more with less is something most veterinary practices have gotten used to over the last few years. But what kind of toll is this mantra taking on America’s workers? In a recent study, 81 percent of human resources managers agreed that employee fatigue is a bigger problem than in years past.

According to a survey by the trade journal Workforce Management, the major culprits are lower headcount, lack of boundaries between work and home life, and a culture of wanting to do it all. According to the study, it’s a perfect storm of employers cutting their workforces as far as they can and workers being stretched as far as they can.

In another survey administered by LinkedIn and consulting firm Right Management Inc., more than half of U.S. workers reported feeling fatigued at the end of the workday, and at least 40 percent of all age groups said their jobs made them depressed. Yet, according to the study’s authors, employees are afraid to talk about how tired they are because of the weak job market. They don’t want to be perceived as someone who’s not doing more than they should, even without a raise, because they don’t want to lose their job.

Some companies are taking measures to ensure that employee morale remains intact, such as barring employees from working through lunch or even eating lunch at their desks. See the related links below for tips to help make sure your veterinary team members enjoy coming to work each day.