The Real Consequences of IT Issues on Employees

In the fast-paced world of technology, IT issues are bound to happen. From server crashes to network outages, these problems can cause severe disruptions to business operations. While the focus is often on how these issues impact the bottom line, it’s important to remember that the consequences extend beyond financial losses. The effects of IT problems on employees can be just as devastating. The impact on individuals can be significant, from frustration and stress to decreased productivity and absenteeism. For example, a study from Nintex found that information technology woes were the most important contributing factor in employees looking for new jobs. Fifty-eight percent of those queried reported that broken IT practices played a ‘significant role’ in their decision to seek new employment. 

In this article, we’ll explore the consequences of IT issues on employees and discuss strategies for minimizing their impact. Whether you’re a business owner or an IT professional, understanding these issues is crucial for ensuring your employees’ well-being and your organization’s success.

The Real Consequences of IT Issues on Employees

IT Downtime

Good IT runs invisibly in the background, a mere afterthought in each worker’s day. However, poor IT, especially when it causes downtime, can significantly affect your organization’s productivity and overall output. 

When systems go down, employees may be unable to access critical files or applications, causing workflow delays and disruptions. This can lead to missed deadlines, decreased productivity, and decreased job satisfaction.

Furthermore, IT issues can cause employees to troubleshoot or wait for systems to return online, taking time away from other tasks. This can lead to increased workload and pressure, causing employees to feel overwhelmed and stressed.

To minimize the productivity impact of IT issues on employees, businesses must have backup and recovery plans in place. This can help ensure critical files and applications are still accessible during an IT issue. Additionally, companies should provide clear guidelines and expectations for employees during IT issues, including prioritizing tasks and communicating with colleagues.

Poor User Experience

The impact of the frustration caused by a negative digital experience is measurable. For example, a recent survey from IE revealed that 95% of employees struggle with digital friction, such as software and network issues, workplace application access problems, and slow devices. And a study by G2 found that 24% of employees have considered leaving their job because the apps and software they use do not match their needs well.

Plenty of workers struggle daily with clunky hardware and internal systems that are slow and needlessly complex. This can lead to frustration and futility, ultimately causing employees to disengage or resign. It can also make it challenging to attract the best talent, as disgruntled ex-employees leave negative reviews on Glassdoor about their experience. 

Providing your employees with modern workplace tools, regular training, and proactive IT support will help them feel motivated and empowered to do great work. For example, a joint study by Microsoft and Qualtrics found employees were 121% more likely to feel valued by their company when they had a high-quality digital workplace experience. They also were more productive, engaged, and happier at work.

Inefficient Remote Work

Organizations worldwide have created new working norms acknowledging that flexible remote work is no longer a temporary pandemic response but an enduring feature of the modern working world. However, although it’s reported benefits on the overall employee experience, remote working comes with its fair share of technology headaches.

From increased security threats and accessibility issues with collaboration apps to sluggish IT service desks, many remote work technology issues can negatively impact an employee’s experience and your organization’s overall output.

In the modern workplace, employees expect their working experience to be the same no matter where they choose to work or which device they use. Therefore, it’s vital that users can work and communicate just as securely and effectively when working remotely as when they’re in the office. 

Security

Data breaches have a significant impact on an organization. While the financial, legal and reputational consequences are readily apparent, these cybersecurity failures also have lesser-known social ramifications. A report from Kaspersky illustrates the negative influence these data breaches can have on employees at affected organizations.

The majority of employees at affected companies reported significant workplace disruptions. Often, these occupational demands have direct effects on their personal lives. For example, 76% of employees noted impacts on their personal relationships due to a data breach, and 16% of respondents said they had quit the company due to these impacts.

Following a data breach, 30% said they had to miss an important personal event, with 27% reporting they had canceled their vacation plans as a result. Another 32% said they’d worked overnight due to the breach, and 33% reported additional stressors.

Cybersecurity incidents can also pit employees against each other as departments point fingers at who to blame. Marketing teams have to work overtime to mitigate reputational damage. Sales employees lose commissions due to lost revenue. The impact of cybersecurity incidents on work experience is plentiful, making it vital for companies to have a robust security strategy. 

How to Minimize the Impact of IT Issues on Employees

To minimize the impact of IT issues on employees, businesses can implement a variety of strategies, including:

• Regularly communicate with employees about IT issues and their expected resolution time.
• Invest in modern workplace technologies for improved collaboration, productivity and security.
• Perform regular verified, air-gapped backups to ensure business continuity in the event of an incident.
• Develop a disaster recovery plan with a budget for unexpected IT expenses and a contingency plan for lost revenue.
• Provide employee training on new technologies, security threats and how to respond in the event of an IT issue.
• Consider a managed services provider to help plan, monitor and secure your digital estate.

Wrapping Up

IT issues can significantly impact employees, from psychological stress and decreased productivity to financial instability. To minimize the impact of IT problems on employees, companies must create a comprehensive IT strategy that ensures modern technologies are available to support a secure and productive working environment from anywhere and that the right policies and procedures are put in place to tackle any issues quickly and effectively.