HR Alone Can't Solve the Great Resignation

The Great Resignation has one clear cause: employee burnout. In a recent survey, more than half of employees said they feel burned out, and more than two-thirds say the feeling has increased since the onset of the pandemic. Given these common sentiments, it's no surprise workers are quitting their jobs in droves in search of (what they hope are) greener pastures at other companies.

As business leaders scramble to retain employees, they're making the mistake of relying primarily on HR to solve the problem. Employee stress and frustrations often have roots in technology that is — or isn't — being used to facilitate remote work. And this means IT teams play a vital role in preventing burnout.

The rapid shift to a remote and hybrid workplace has certainly contributed to employee frustration. Many organizations are still running on cobbled-together remote networks with disparate systems and inefficient processes. Without updated technology, this can also create the potential for security breaches, further adding to employee stress.

The Haves and the Have-Nots
When it comes to ineffective and painful processes, organizations often fall into two categories: the haves and the have nots. Some organizations have an overwhelming number of tools, which can lead to application overload on top of Zoom fatigue, while other organizations without enough technology don't have the productivity tools necessary for employees to do their best work. Where a casual comment about lack of tech resources at the water cooler might have sufficed before, now employees seek out resources on their own and bring in shadow IT, resulting in possibly more security vulnerabilities.

Both types of organizations are ultimately failing to inspire and motivate their employees, leading to burnout. Employees need more efficient, automated processes as well as access to the right amount of productivity tools to ensure they do their best work and maintain their well-being. Not only will this help reduce burnout, but it will also help mitigate turnover, reduce security vulnerabilities, streamline workflows, and increase productivity.

4 Steps to Mitigate Employee Burnout and Maximize Productivity
It's on IT departments and business leaders — not just HR — to develop the solutions that will end the Great Resignation. Streamlined processes and tools are necessary to enhance your employees' abilities to do their job. And when new employees join your workforce — or as I refer to it, the "Great Reshuffle" — you need to ensure these new hires don't have the same unfulfilling experience as they did in their previous roles.

Here are several ways your IT teams and decision-makers can step in to drive innovation and improve employee well-being and workflows.

You can't solve the effects of the Great Resignation at your organization if the right people aren't involved. Your IT teams, alongside business leaders, can support the workforce by creating a culture of feedback and introducing automation into your tech ecosystem. With more effective, innovative tools and processes, you can inspire employees, maximize productivity, and mitigate burnout and turnover.