In today’s competitive business landscape, a decline in productivity can cost organizations in more ways than one. Low employee productivity can impact revenue and allow your competition to surge past you.
Although the causes of diminished workplace productivity are complex, it’s important to take the time to understand them because that’s the only way to know how to improve employee productivity. Creating a strategic approach that identifies and mitigates low productivity at work can help you turn things around and drive sustained improvement.
Learn about the 14 leading causes of low productivity levels and get detailed, comprehensive solutions you can implement starting today.
1. Insufficient training
Research shows that training is linked to job satisfaction and productivity. Insufficient training often results in employees who can’t perform their duties efficiently and effectively, which can also frustrate other employees and coworkers.
Solution: Organizations should invest in comprehensive training programs customized to the specific needs of their workforce. Training materials must be regularly updated to reflect new technologies or advancements in industry trends. Mentoring programs offer ongoing support and guidance and are another strategy that can improve training outcomes.
2. Poor communication
Studies show that 72% of business leaders say effective communication increases productivity. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and inefficiencies that disrupt workflows or cause projects to go off course. Without clear, transparent directives and open lines of communication, employees might waste time on low-priority tasks or even duplicate work.
Solution: Every organization can benefit from effective communication tools. Regular team meetings, company-wide or team-wide updates, trainings, and collaborative platforms will ensure information is shared as efficiently as possible, allowing everyone to be aligned with goals and expectations to maintain worker productivity.
3. Heavy workload
While work needs to get done, excessive workloads can overwhelm employees. Too much to do and not enough hours in the day can lead to stress, decreased job satisfaction, and an increased likelihood of errors. Unrealistic workloads can cause employee burnout and a significant drop in productivity levels.
Solution: Leadership should regularly monitor workloads and ensure fair distribution of tasks — today, project management software makes this easy. You can also consider hiring additional team members or redistributing jobs to balance responsibilities more evenly.
4. Employee stress or burnout
Chronic stress and burnout can severely impact an employee’s emotional and mental state, distracting them from their job and leading to a high likelihood of errors that can lead to low productivity levels.
Solution: Providing access to mental health resources, like online therapy for employees, is a great start. You can also implement employee wellness ideas and employee wellness programs to help employees find a work-life balance that alleviates stress.
5. Lack of resources
Not having adequate supplies or resources to do the job is a major cause of low employee productivity at work. When employees don’t have what they need — including software, tools, or a supportive workforce — their ability to work efficiently and successfully is drastically reduced. Not having the proper resources slows individual performance and can delay entire projects or teams.
Solution: Regularly audit employee needs. Update or replace technology, tools, and other resources quickly so employees always have what they need to succeed.
6. High absenteeism
Recurring absenteeism can disrupt workflows, place additional burdens on other employees and leadership, and delay project timelines. High absenteeism rates are often a sign of deeper issues, like a toxic culture, job dissatisfaction, or mental or physical health problems.
Solution: To address this issue, you must first understand the root causes of absenteeism at work. Offering flexible work conditions, stellar health benefits, and a supportive work environment can reduce absenteeism in the workplace and increase productivity across the board.
7. Low employee engagement
Employee engagement and productivity go hand in hand. Low employee engagement can lead to a lack of effort and interest in work. It can impact the entire team’s ability to produce. Engaged employees are often more productive, motivated, and committed.
Solution: Improve engagement through interactive and inclusive team-building activities. Offering clear career progression paths and providing regular feedback on how employees can do better will energize workers and align their efforts with your goals.
8. Declining work quality
If the quality of work is declining, it can be due to several things, including a lack of skill or motivation or not having clear performance standards. Poor quality can damage a company’s brand reputation and customer satisfaction. It can also reduce productivity, as most employees struggle with motivation when they feel their brand or organization isn’t respected in their space.
Solution: Regular training and performance reviews will establish and maintain high standards. Clear expectations and regular constructive feedback help employees continuously improve.
9. Poor management
Poor management practices can be incredibly demotivating. Toxic leadership can lead to inefficiencies and create a hostile work environment that severely thwarts productivity. Effective leadership is critical for motivating staff and driving business success.
Solution: Training managers in leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and effective communication will transform organizational management practices. Use assessments and employee feedback to help identify areas for improvement.
10. Lack of recognition
Finding motivation to be productive can be difficult when employees don’t feel like their efforts are recognized. A little bit of acknowledgment goes a long way in driving performance and demonstrating how much you value those who work for you.
Solution: Create a recognition program to reward employee achievements and milestones. Recognition should be specific, timely, and aligned with company values.
11. Toxic workplace
Harassment, bullying, and discrimination create a toxic work environment that crushes employee morale and drives away top talent. It doesn’t take long for a toxic workplace to reduce productivity and harm overall employee well-being.
Solution: Implement strict anti-harassment and zero-tolerance policies in your organization. Offer training programs to educate employees and leadership about acceptable behaviors, and ensure anonymous channels for feedback and grievances.
12. Suboptimal work environment
Uncomfortable, noisy, or poorly designed work environments can distract employees and decrease efficiency and productivity. According to some research, poor working environments can reduce productivity by as much as 33%.
Inadequate lighting, uncomfortable furniture, and high noise levels can all contribute to a suboptimal work environment.
Solution: Optimize physical workspaces to enhance comfort and productivity by investing in ergonomic furniture, improving lighting conditions, and creating quiet zones for focused work.
13. Poor work-life balance
Spending too many hours on the job or working outside of traditional office hours can lead to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and reduced productivity. Poor work-life balance for employees can also increase turnover rates, costing your organization a lot in hiring and retraining.
Solution: Encourage flexible working arrangements like telecommuting, flex hours, shortened work weeks, or job sharing so employees can be productive at work while still successfully managing personal responsibilities.
14. Inefficient processes
Outdated, overly complex, or inefficient processes will consume time and energy your employees simply don’t have. As a result, frustrated workers might be less motivated to respond quickly, which can cause them to struggle to be productive.
Solution: Review and update your business practices regularly to keep up with the competition. Identify waste and streamline workflows to improve efficiency and increase productivity. Automation technologies can reduce manual errors and allow your employees to focus on other business areas, further enhancing productivity.
Boost productivity and employee well-being with Talkspace support
Multiple factors cause low productivity at work — from insufficient training to lack of communication to inefficient processes. Addressing the issue is crucial, especially if mental well-being is part of the problem. Stress, burnout, and workplace culture can alter someone’s ability to do their job well.
Integrating services like Talkspace can make a huge difference. Our online therapy platform ensures employees have access to mental health professionals who can offer support and tools to help them navigate their professional and personal lives. Talkspace therapists guide employees in learning to manage stress and resolve conflict, even when under work pressure.
Partnering with Talkspace is more than just an investment in your employees’ mental well-being—it’s a strategic move that pays off in multiple ways, including happier employees and increased productivity.
Contact Talkspace today to learn more about offering a corporate wellness program that helps you build a productive, engaged, and satisfied workforce.
Sources:
- Shin, Min Gwan, Young-Ki Kim, Se-Yeoung Kim, and Dong Mug Kang. 2020. “Relationship Between Job Training and Subjective Well-being in Accordance With Work Creativity, Task Variety, and Occupation.” Safety and Health at Work 11 (4): 466–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2020.08.006. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7728823/. Accessed July 2, 2024.
- “Workplace Communication Statistics in 2024.” 2024. Pumble Learn. April 22, 2024. https://pumble.com/learn/communication/communication-statistics/. Accessed July 2, 2024.
- “Work Environment Statistics: Latest Data & Summary - WiFiTalents.” n.d. WiFiTalents. https://wifitalents.com/statistic/work-environment/. Accessed July 2, 2024. ‘Kalev, Alexandra. 2022. “The Surprising Benefits of Work/Life Support.” Harvard Business Review. August 16, 2022. https://hbr.org/2022/09/the-surprising-benefits-of-work-life-support. Accessed July 2, 2024.