You’d be hard-pressed to find a modern-day workplace in which boredom isn’t a prevalent issue. While there’s no denying that most jobs are a far cry from fun, a workforce that’s constantly trapped in the throes of boredom is unlikely to be very happy or productive. Even if working isn’t exactly one’s idea of a good time, there are numerous steps businesses can take toward making the workday less monotonous for employees. If a more engaged workforce is what you’re after, the following tips are sure to serve you well.
1. Don’t Waste Your Employees’ Time
One of the leading causes of workplace boredom is employees simply not having enough to do. Many full-time members of the workforce don’t have nearly enough work to eat up 40 hours a week. As a result, workers often feel the need to sit at their desks and look busy despite having completed their quota for the day. If an employee has nothing to do and you have no more work to give them, there should be no harm in allowing them to clock out early. Forcing team members who have completed their daily quota to twiddle their thumbs until quitting time won’t serve anyone well. On the contrary, it will make the workplace feel like something akin to a prison and breed employee resentment.
2. Create a Comfortable Work Environment
Unsurprisingly, many people don’t feel comfortable in bland and stifling workplaces. This type of environment can be emotionally draining and is highly conducive to boredom. Businesses looking to get a handle on this problem are encouraged to create workplaces with a homier, more casual feel. This means easing up on dress code restrictions, providing well-furnished break areas adorned with motivational posters and giving workers greater control over their own schedules.
3. Be Open to Telecommuting
A sizable percentage of full-time workers do not need to be physically present in an office for 40 hours each week. As previously stated, many of these individuals aren’t given enough work to occupy that much time. Furthermore, many of the positions these people hold needn’t entail reporting to the office every day. This is where telecommuting comes into play. With the many forms of instant communication modern technology offers, an extensive assortment of traditional office jobs can easily be done from the comfort of home. Allowing certain employees to carry out their duties from home is an effective way to reduce job fatigue, workplace stress and, of course, boredom. Telecommuting is particularly beneficial for workers with families and employees who live a substantial distance from the office.
It isn’t hard to see why so many members of the workforce are bored at their jobs. In addition to being physically and mentally exhausting, most jobs simply aren’t that stimulating. However, this isn’t to say that employers should resign themselves to employees who are perpetually disengaged. Keeping workers alert and productive isn’t nearly as daunting as some businesses make it look. In the fight against boredom in the workplace, take care to arm yourself with the previously discussed pointers.
