HR Barometer: Too much digitalization wears out workers
The new Swiss HR Barometer addresses two developments: Digitalization and the aging of society. The higher the company's level of digitalization, the lower the level of job satisfaction.
This year, the Swiss HR Barometer (Human Relations Barometer), which is compiled every two years, links two key developments: Digitalization and the aging of our society. In the survey of around 2,000 employees, the topic of aging revealed that around 40 percent, according to the Media release the University of Lucerne would be quite willing to continue working beyond the time of their retirement. However, many of them already suffer from prejudices against older employees in companies during their regular working lives. According to the HR Barometer, these seem to be widespread in Switzerland. "There is a considerable need for action here for employers, but also for managers and colleagues," study director Gudela Grote is quoted as saying.
Barometer on digital solutions
According to the barometer, the questions about digitalization revealed a conclusion: The higher the company's level of digitalization, the lower the job satisfaction. 74 percent of respondents stated that their company is willing to use digital solutions. Employee ownership is playing an increasingly important role. A total of 66 percent of respondents say that they are "fully" or at least "somewhat" empowered to make independent decisions by their supervisors. On the other hand, electronic monitoring is also reported. 20 percent of respondents feel that their privacy is restricted as a result. The results show that employees feel less connected to their company if electronic monitoring is used too often.
Around 75 percent of respondents prefer a clear separation between work and private life. The desire for separation is even more pronounced among older employees. At the same time, however, around 60 percent state that work and private life mix in practice
The study is led by Gudela Grote, Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), and by Bruno Staffelbach, Head of the Center for Human Resource Management at the University of Lucerne, in cooperation with the University of Zurich issued on a regular basis.
