Leaders.com
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Wealth
  • Master Classes
  • Business
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Executives
    • Marketing and Sales
    • Social Media
    • Innovation
    • Women in Business
  • Leadership
    • Personal Growth
    • Company Culture
    • Public Speaking
    • Productivity
    • Hiring
    • Social Issues
    • Leaders
  • Wealth
    • Investing
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Retirement
    • Venture Capital
    • Loans and Borrowing
    • Taxes
    • Markets
    • Real Estate
  • Master Classes
Productivity

Operational productivity has increased in the past 12 to 24 months, but it can come at a cost (Courtesy of ActiveOps)

By Tyler Hummel Leaders Staff

Tyler Hummel

Tyler Hummel

Tyler Hummel is a news writer for Leaders Media. He was the Fall 2021 College Fix Fellow and Health Care...

Full bio


Learn about our editorial policy

Jun 9, 2023

Balancing Employee Productivity and Burnout 

North American employees are proving to be among the most economically resilient in the world, but there is a limit to how hard employers can push them. 

Key Details

  • Operational productivity in North America has consistently increased over the past 12 to 24 months, according to workforce software company ActiveOps. 
  • Productivity has increased from 40% to 55%, based on the company’s internal operational performance measurements. 
  • This resilience has helped the U.S. reduce recession risks and protect the job market amid high inflation and high-interest rates. 
  • This positive trend of high productivity has, unfortunately, paired with similarly high rates of worker burnout, layoffs, and stress, in addition to reduced quality customer service.  
  • The positive trend has not been reflected in other countries in Europe and Asia.

Why It’s Important 

The strength of the post-COVID-19 economy has helped mask many of the ongoing challenges facing the modern workforce, but many of them bubbled up into the mainstream over the past year. “Quiet quitting” and “the Great Resignation” became nationally-feared buzzwords as employers began to notice employees turning in less effort or leaving for greener pastures. The prevalence of remote-work jobs gave workers more freedom than ever, as large companies did everything they could to crack down on employees outside the office. 

“Quiet quitting” and “the Great Resignation” remain serious problems, as worker burnout and stress continue to harm the workforce amid mass employee layoffs in the tech industry, recession fears, a stressful housing market, and inflating prices. 

Spencer O’Leary is the CEO of ActiveOps. He tells Leaders Media that his company views productivity metrics as a series of levers that affect one another. It is possible to force staff to be more productive, but this comes at the cost of greater stress, poor health, and decreased customer service. A proper application of operational performance—ActiveOp’s basic measure of productivity—requires using machine-based solutions to evaluate and balance the needs of a large workforce. 

“I was speaking to the senior executive of a large bank recently. She said in 2023, the cost of sickness is significantly higher than underproductivity. Pushing productivity appears to be feeding into the Great Resignation,” he says.   

Possible Solutions 

O’Leary says that one of the most important factors in the recent increase of productivity has been the rise in remote work. Workforces—particularly in businesses like banking, insurance, and healthcare—have proven to be more productive working from home. The downside of this has been that increased productivity has come at the expense of creativity, agility, and overall well-being. Working from home is stifled many businesses’ operational performance by limiting water cooler conversation and collaboration.

Every business is different, and some handle remote work better than others. Moreso than allowing every job to be remote or requiring everyone to return to the office, O’Leary says managers must make their policies and management styles decisive and clear. Companies in the UK and Ireland, for instance, have reportedly suffered because their remote work strategies are indecisive. 

“Most American businesses have been decisive with their plans and intentions. They’re definitive in their remote and office strategies. Asian and European businesses still haven’t worked things out. Any uncertainty in the workplace creates chaos. Being decisive and clear with employees helps reduce employees, tells them what they’re doing, and allows them to perform well,” he says. 

This is not an excuse for a domineering approach to management, as many stories have come out in the past year of inappropriate ways managers have attempted to remain in control of staff, with heavy worker surveillance and supervision. Trust is an important factor in allowing managers to lead their staff. The key is balance, using the right data and information, and clearly communicating strategies to employees.

Home / News / Balancing Employee Productivity and Burnout 
Share
FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn

Related Stories

Seattle Takes The Crown For Advanced Tech Talent

by PJ Howland Leaders Staff
Tech

Oct 24, 2023

Seattle tech talent

Seattle has emerged as the metro area with the most advanced tech talent, beating out tech hubs like San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Key Details

  • According to a new ranking by the Burning Glass Institute, Seattle has the highest proportion of advanced tech workers compared to other cities with similarly sized tech workforces.
  • The ranking evaluated 60 million high-paying, in-demand tech job postings and histories to identify cities with cutting-edge roles like AI and cybersecurity rather than legacy tech positions.
  • With tech giants Amazon and Microsoft headquartered in Seattle, the city edged out the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Austin, and Raleigh on the list.
  • The report found that demand for software developers and IT support specialists has declined over the past five years as companies seek more specialized tech talent.

Go deeper

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn

More Americans Can’t Keep Up With Car Payments

by Colin Baker Leaders Staff
Loans and Borrowing

Oct 23, 2023

car loans, used cars

A record number of Americans are behind on their car loan payments as higher interest rates and prices weigh on consumers.

Key Details

  • According to data from Fitch Ratings, 6.11% of car loans were at least 60 days delinquent in September, the highest since tracking began in the early 2000s.
  • Some interest rates on used cars can rise to as much as 21%, according to Bankrate.
  • Soaring prices and rising interest rates are squeezing consumers, making it difficult for some to keep up with their auto loans.

Go deeper

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn

Chevron Makes $53 Billion Deal Amid Surging Gas Prices

by PJ Howland Leaders Staff
Markets

Oct 23, 2023

Chevron Gas Deal

Chevron is acquiring Hess Corp. for $53 billion, the second significant oil producer acquisition this month as crude prices climb.

Key Details

  • Chevron is purchasing Hess in an all-cash deal worth $53 billion, including debt and preferred stock redemption.
  • This comes just weeks after ExxonMobil announced its $59.5 billion purchase of Pioneer Natural Resources.
  • With oil over $80 per barrel, major producers are using their windfall profits to acquire smaller players and boost payouts to shareholders.
  • Chevron expects the deal to close in H1 2023 pending regulatory approvals and Hess shareholder vote.
  • Hess CEO John Hess will join Chevron's board once the acquisition is complete.

Go deeper

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn
nike logo
Company Culture

Oct 20, 2023

Nike to Require More In-Office Days From Employees

by Colin Baker Leaders Staff
blue collar workers
Retirement

Oct 20, 2023

Explaining The ‘C+ Grade’ Retirement Ecosystem in The United States

by PJ Howland Leaders Staff
netflix building
Entertainment

Oct 19, 2023

Netflix Hiking Prices While Adding Millions of Subscribers

by Colin Baker Leaders Staff

Recent Articles

Hiring

Nov 1, 2023

Learn the Winning Answers to the Most Common Phone Interview Questions

Come to your next phone interview fully prepared

Personal Growth

Oct 30, 2023

85 Quotes on Self-Love to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Don’t fall into the trap of harsh self-criticism

Company Culture

Oct 27, 2023

What is a Sabbatical? Your Ticket to Restful Growth and Meaning

Sabbaticals can benefits both employees and businesses

  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Wealth
Join the Leaders Community

Get exclusive tools and resources you need to grow as a leader and scale a purpose-driven business.

Subscribing indicates your consent to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Leaders.com
  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Careers
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Member Login

© 2025 Leaders.com - All rights reserved.

Search Leaders.com