Research by Sirota Survey Intelligence suggests that businesses may face more negative consequences from bored employees than from those who feel overworked. Employees who report "too little work" often have jobs that are poorly designed or not suited to their skills, leading to significantly lower job satisfaction, a diminished sense of accomplishment, and reduced pride in their employers.

The Impact of Boredom vs. Overwork

While overwork can lead to burnout, boredom has been found to have even greater negative effects on both employees and organizations. Douglas Klein, president of Sirota Survey Intelligence, notes that bored employees tend to be less engaged, less innovative, and feel undervalued compared to those who feel overworked.

Key Findings from the Sirota Survey:

• Overworked employees (22%) outnumber bored employees (14%), but boredom has a more severe impact on job satisfaction.
• Employees who feel overworked often report lack of support from colleagues, reduced work quality, and job-related stress.
• Employees with "too little work" report:
  • Lower job satisfaction (50% vs. 81%)
  • Finding their job less challenging (22% vs. 71%)
  • Feeling underutilized (36% vs. 74%)
  • Less pride in their employer (51% vs. 76%)
  • Less innovation encouragement (43% vs. 65%)
  • Feeling less important to their company (34% vs. 61%)

Workplace Support and Balance

Employees who have "about the right amount of work" report higher levels of job satisfaction and workplace balance:

• 59% receive adequate support from coworkers, compared to 35% of overworked employees.
• 59% believe their workload does not affect work quality, compared to just 25% of overworked employees.
• 49% report a good work-life balance, while only 28% of overworked employees feel the same.

Addressing Employee Concerns

Klein emphasizes that while overworked employees may suffer from stress and burnout, bored employees pose an even greater risk to organizations. Their disengagement can lead to lower morale, decreased productivity, and wasted resources.

Companies should take both complaints seriously—overworked employees may need workflow adjustments, while bored employees require job redesigns or new challenges to maintain engagement and productivity.

This content includes text that has been generated with the assistance of AI. Lab Manager’s AI policy can be found here.