Increased workload: 1 in 8 UAE employees multitask

Multi-taskers are always in high demand in the workforce, and employers often look for people who can juggle between roles and handle many assignments at the same time.

The demand for such employees is so high that majority (80 per cent) of the employees end up doing more than one task.

According to a new report by Accenture, ListenLearnLead, which surveyed 3,600 professionals from 30 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, found that eight in 10 respondents globally say they multitask on conference calls with work emails, instant messaging, personal emails, social media and reading news and entertainment (cited by 66 per cent, 35 per cent, 34 per cent, 22 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively).

While 66 per cent of respondents agree that multitasking enables them to accomplish more at work, more than a third (36 per cent) say the many distractions prevent them from doing their best, resulting in a loss of focus, lower-quality work and diminished team relationships.

When the survey asked what interrupts their workday the most, global respondents cited telephone calls and unscheduled meetings/visitors more than twice as often as they cited instant messaging and texting (79 per cent and 72 per cent, respectively, versus 30 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively). UAE respondents cited unscheduled meetings/visitors and phone calls (80 per cent and 76 per cent respectively) as the most interrupting to their workday.

According to a previous study by The Harvard Business Review, this behaviour can lead to as much as a 40 per cent decrease in productivity. The experts at magazine say that it takes workers time to switch mindset from one task to another, which can only lead to stress and low productivity in the long term.

The research from Accenture also shows the importance that employees give to workplace learning.

“Fully 80 per cent of respondents agree on-the-job training is the most effective form of learning in the workplace and more important than formal training (cited by 66 per cent). The majority (85 per cent) value their company training: 42 per cent see it as an opportunity, 23 per cent view it as a requirement, and 32 per cent see it as both.

“More than half (59 per cent) say company training has helped them get promoted or expand their role. The UAE male respondents were most likely to rate their company training as somewhat valuable (34 per cent), whereas UAE female respondents most rated their company training as mostly valuable (34 per cent),” the study reads.
 

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