Operating in the new normal

This research, commissioned by ServiceNow, finds that improving worker engagement can produce bottom line benefits for organisations. It can increase productivity, and deliver the innovation needed to thrive.

Businesses need to be able to rely on their people. It is people who maintain growth, productivity and profitability. Yet the majority (60%) of professional workers in Australia have only ‘average’ levels of engagement. This creates opportunities for improvement in Australian businesses. Every week, one in three people feel fatigued or stressed at the thought of facing another working day, and 35% feel frustrated by work.

One factor that can contribute to such feelings is the nature of tasks. Full time employees spend one quarter of their week working. Yet, professionals report that they spend 27% of their time on administrative tasks that aren’t their main job.

Our survey found that employees who use technology frequently at work spend less time completing administrative tasks. For the average full-time worker, this equates to 6.8 hours less on administrative tasks in a week.

New modelling for this report has shown improving employee engagement can create a potential 0.56% increase in profitability for a company. Even small changes in work design can unlock these benefits. If employees spent one hour less on routine tasks each week, it could improve employee engagement. The uplift in engagement would create an estimated $46 million in additional profits for the 200 largest Australian organisations.

Published: September 2020