Are politics getting in the way of productivity?
The current economic crisis has created additional stress in the workplace. This can lead to situations where individuals do not know if they are going to have a job the next day, next week or next month. Many functions today involve a team atmosphere where individuals work together to get the job done. It is conducive to a team environment to treat co-workers with respect. Sometimes people feel there are issues involving their co-workers. When individuals have issues with their co-workers they should either talk to them or if they are uncomfortable with that situation, go through the chain of command in their organization. This should be the normal process and if this is violated it impacts the organization.
Companies sometimes, if not all the time, have guidelines in place for restricting other activity while on company time. Some restrictions may involve listening to the radio, use of the Internet, email, and telephone usage among others. While these are only two examples others exist dependent upon the company and the job to be completed. This is their prerogative but the needs of workers must also be recognized. This is especially true for those individuals who constantly have requirements to perform computer related duties. They need some activity to break the routine of sitting at their computer to make it a more enjoyable atmosphere. Sometimes co-workers perceive issues with other co-workers regarding these restrictions. What they must realize is that it is the responsibility of management to monitor this activity, not theirs. When co-workers take it upon themselves to police these restrictions it is disruptive to a team environment, causes hard feelings and is not conducive to a working team atmosphere. If this activity appears to be known by management and they have no problem with the way it is being used, then other co-workers should have no problem.
Sometimes it may appear that there is activity which is believed to be interfering with getting the job done while this is not the case. Any enforcement of restricted activity must be accomplished by treating employees with respect. Records of activities do not always tell the whole picture and jumping to conclusions based solely on data is wrong. While some data may indicate some concern the employee should be contacted to clear or explain the activity. There can be a logical explanation to some activity which aids the employee in creating an environment conducive to work. Jobs that require the use of computers can become tedious and workers need something to take the edge off. While it may appear to some that a worker is on the Internet they may be listening to music which does not detract from getting the job done. This is why it is appropriate to contact the employee involved and in so doing it may be discovered that there is no issue at all only the appearance of one.
It is also important to take note that there have been studies related to jobs which involve large amounts of time on computers. These studies have indicated a need for allowing some respite from the activity while not interfering with the performance of the work. In actuality it has been found in some cases that taking some initiative to make it more enjoyable to work in this type of environment actually increases the volume of work performed. One of the keys in working is that employees must enjoy the atmosphere created in the workplace. Employees who are happy perform better and show up for work to accomplish their responsibilities. The paragraph below identifies some results of studies performed in a work environment and the results.
Studies have shown humans can only concentrate for 45 minutes at a time. This is especially prevalent in schools as well when during a long class teachers give students a break from the instruction. This helps them to focus better after the break is over. The same is true in the work environment. Employees, especially those who have the responsibility of constantly entering data in a computer need a respite from the activity to regenerate their energy and focus for the task. These respites can involve a number of options as exhibited in results found in the found at the link below. While it states that these activities may not be applicable for everyone in their environment, if they work and the job is getting done employers should be more lenient to let their employees have an outlet. Some examples are identified in the following paragraph.
One example is to check your email once in the morning and once in the evening. This helps to minimize any distractions. Studies have also indicated it is beneficial to take several breaks and instead of following schedules for breaks. Employees should follow their instincts instead of schedules and unplug for a moment when their mind or body are in overload. While some studies indicate setting aside time to goof off they indicate that it can help to relieve stress, improve morale and even help with team building efforts. There are other results regarding studies about workplace activity and they can be read at the following link.
Another point to make when action is being considered against an employee if it appears they are violating restrictions in place is that actions should not be limited to a single employee or group of employees. When actions are taken in this respect it can be considered discrimination if the rules are not being equally applied across the board. This kind of activity leaves organizations open to lawsuits if individuals.
Though there are rules in place if workers are getting the job done companies should be less concerned about certain infractions of the rules. With regard to the use of the Internet there are certain sites which organizations consider inappropriate in the workplace and access to them can be justification for disciplinary action. The main point in any organization is having the resources to get the job done and having personnel that get the job done. If this can be done while listening to music or other activity it should be allowed as it creates an atmosphere in which it is more enjoyable to work. It must be pointed out that workers in many organizations have the right to have breaks. If activities such as accessing the Internet occurs during break or lunch time organizations should not have a problem. This is why it is appropriate to contact an employee for an explanation.
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This article discussed the relationship between company rules and the needs of employees. Companies have the right to enforce rules but that enforcement must consider the needs of their employees. In some cases it may even be necessary to modify the rules allowing employees the respite they need to tackle the tasks they are assigned. Granted in any atmosphere there may be some violations but how an employer reacts to these given the circumstances involved says much about them. Employers want and need a reputation that respects their employees and treats them fairly. The reputation of a company can and does have an impact on how the public reacts to some degree to the products or services they provide. The public wants to see that employees are happy in the job they are doing and this makes them feel more comfortable in using the products or services.
Granted there are cases where a product or service is a necessity but if there are other providers people may go elsewhere if they feel they are not getting the service they deserve. The quality of a product or service is impacted by the how well employees enjoy their job. Try as many do the feelings of frustration can be felt in some cases from the customers with which employees interact. It is the right of employers to have rules but when it appears that these rules have been violated by an employee, the employee has a right to respond to the allocations. As in law those accused of crimes have a right to face their accusers. The same should be true in the work environment. While this may be a problem in some cases those that have the authority to take action should allow any employee to respond. Sometimes data can be misinterpreted. The whole picture must be considered when evaluating data associated with any rules violation.
The mental activity of an employee must be considered commensurate with their assigned responsibilities. Mental fatigue can cause a lack of productivity and in some cases health issues.
It is the responsibility of management to understand these needs and act accordingly. Employers need employees to get the work done and employees need employers to earn a living and pay their bills. The atmosphere in a work environment can be a critical factor. Companies that create an atmosphere where it is enjoyable to work will have better results. This involves not only getting the normal work accomplished but having employees respond positively when management ask them to perform additional duties. Employees who are happy in the jobs will typically take less time off. This helps the bottom line and helps make the company more secure in their share of the market. Having employees who are happy should be a goal of any company. When there appears to be violations of established rules/policies employees have a right to respond before decisions are made as to the consequences for the violation.