Leadership

5 Ways to Reduce Employee Workload

Employee Volunteering GraphsRegardless of which industry your company operates in, it is an unavoidable fact that employees can become overloaded with work, or tasked with unwanted duties, often resulting in demotivation and lower team morale.

Proper staff management and task allocation can work well to ensure that your company is getting the most out of its payroll expenditure, but sometimes there are those “dirty” jobs that nobody on the team wants to do, and in other cases there’s just too much work to be split up appropriately.

So what do you do when your employees are being overworked or are stuck performing tasks they aren’t fond of? Consider the following 5 tips to find out:

1. Outsource Telemarketing and Appointment Setting

Cold calling, conducting follow-ups, and setting appointments over the phone can be some of the most unenjoyable and time-consuming jobs to give your employees. Not only does it make many employees dread coming to work, it also takes away from the important in-house tasks they could be focusing on instead. Fortunately, there are appointment setting services that will let you outsource this burdensome task so that your employees can return to helping the business progress in other ways.

2. Examine Software-Based Solutions

Employees often spend a significant amount of time performing tasks that could be either automated or simplified by the use of software. If your business deals in the digital sector, it may be worthwhile to consult with a software specialist to examine whether there may be ways to make your employees’ jobs easier and more efficient through the use of software. Such programs are especially useful for accounting, scheduling, and business management purposes.

3. Hire Virtual Assistants

In-house employees are valuable because they handle the local aspect of operations, like dealing with prospects and customers face-to-face and maintaining the operating efficiency of the office. If your employees are frequently occupied by computer tasks that could be performed remotely, consider outsourcing some of the work to virtual assistants. You may be able to find some cheap help overseas by looking for virtual assistants in countries that have decent English speakers who are willing to work at lower prices, such as the Philippines.

4. Put More Responsibility on Management

Oftentimes managers sit back and watch while employees are trudging along and struggling to keep up with their tasks. This is not how it should work. When employees are overloaded, management should immediately step in and start absorbing some of the workload. If you notice that your management staff isn’t doing a good job of this, it may be time to hold a meeting to discuss which tasks management should be helping with during busy times.

5. Work Smarter, Not Harder

Many times employees are simply overloaded because tasks are being done in an inefficient manner. There is an old adage that says “you should work smarter, not harder.” Once you’ve considered the other tips above, cap up your efforts by making a list of ways you can make your employees’ jobs easier without sacrificing performance quality.

Remember to Monitor Employee Performance

Even if you take all of the steps recommended in this article, there’s no way to know whether your employees are truly overloaded or simply dragging their feet unless you’re consistently monitoring their efforts. With that said, there should be a system of accountability that helps you keep track of each employee to better optimise operating procedures on an ongoing basis.

If you have any questions, please ask below!