One in five frontline workers have felt overwhelmed by the amount of information available at work and have considered quitting.
A new poll of 1,000 U.S. workers in the retail, food service, fitness and hospitality industries found that overall, 83% of workers feel at some level overwhelmed by the amount of information they need to do their jobs properly.
Many people believe that work-related stress is caused by not knowing the specific skills required for the job (43%), and more than half (55%) admit that feeling stressed at work makes them more likely to make mistakes.
In addition to stress, three in four people also struggle to stay up to date with the information they need to do their jobs.
Contractor Wise Tail A survey conducted by Talker Research found that three in 10 people are confident or certain that their companies are unable to provide up-to-date and consistent resources for training.
But many workers believe it would make a big difference if their employer provided them with the right information resources.
83% of respondents said they were able to easily acquire the skills required for their role thanks to training provided by their company, whether in person (78%), online (62%) or through paper resources (50%).
The results showed that 52% said they frequently learn something new in their role. In fact, only 2% said they “never” learn anything new from their job.
“It's very easy to become overwhelmed with information, and that can definitely lead to mistakes,” says Ali Knapp, president of Wisetail. “As several of our respondents said, it's important not to rush, but to take the time to learn about your role and really take advantage of the resources the company has to offer.”
The survey results also found that 69% of workers believe their current role has given them skills that will benefit their long-term career in the future. In fact, just as many see their job as a long-term career opportunity, not just a short-term role.
Additionally, 70% of people are likely to continue working for their current organization if they are offered a long-term role at the company.
The average person has been in their current role for over two years, spending the first five months learning how to perform the job and another four months understanding the day-to-day operations.
The majority (84%) stated that the job description was in line with their initial expectations when applying.
“It's clear that people value their jobs and want to stay with their current companies,” Knapp continued. “Employees know that if their company provides them with the right tools, resources and learning opportunities, without the stress of information overload, they'll be set up for success.”
Research Methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 Americans working on the frontline in the restaurant, quick-service, fast-casual, hospitality, retail and fitness industries. The survey was commissioned by Wisetail and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 29 and May 8, 2024.
