We spend a considerable amount of time working: Germans work 35 hours a week for 40 years on average, that’s around 73,000 hours in total over the course of a lifetime. Naturally, such an important area of our lives has many facets, some of which we don’t even think about in our day to day lives. Work can just be work – but it could be so much more.
The IFBG consulted their database to identify which parts of work need improvement. They asked over 4,000 employees: Which areas in your day-to-day work have the biggest need for action?
The Areas for Improvement
The results indicated 7 fields in which most employees see a need for action.
The Importance of a clear and stable flow of information within and between departments for any workplace is self-evident. The proper coordination of tasks depends on (amongst other things) a good infrastructure of communication Employees seem to think the same, as they have identified this as a point of concern. Closely related is the topic of appropriate briefing for new tasks – here employees also see a field of action. Companies should focus on establishing adequate communication channels to help progress this area.
Employees seem to want stability, as they rated “temporary employment contracts” as one of the topics that need change. Understandable, as worrying about your next place of employment every time a contract expires hinders your ability to plan for the future.
Furthermore, “workplace conditions” is an overarching field that needs an upgrade. Employees shared that the offered software, ergonomic equipment as well as possibilities for retreat or designated break rooms could be better. As said before, we spend a lot of time at work, it’s only logical that employees want to eliminate unnecessary disruptions and try to make it as comfortable as possible while they are there.
Most employees want to advance in their careers, as such, they are very interested in opportunities for further education. Despite this interest, there seems to be a lack of such opportunities: Employees have identified this area as in need of development.
Knowing Your Weakness Is a Strength – How to Get an Insight
As much information as our database can provide, each company is different. Areas of concern can vary considerably, as employees may place importance in different aspects of their workplace. To ensure that companies can act accordingly to their individual needs, employees should be regularly asked which parts of their workplace need improvement.
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