{"id":70700,"date":"2014-07-31T15:01:40","date_gmt":"2014-07-31T19:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbachnet.wwwmi3-ss40.a2hosted.com\/index.php\/"},"modified":"2022-09-13T16:17:11","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T20:17:11","slug":"killer-it-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/killer-it-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Killer IT Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20121020105336\/http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu:80\/collegeadmissionsstudentblog\/2011\/11\/08\/busy-busy-busy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-103836\" title=\"Killer IT Jobs\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_out1-e1568068490942-103x150.jpg?resize=76%2C110&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Killer IT Jobs\" width=\"76\" height=\"110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_out1-e1568068490942.jpg?resize=103%2C150&amp;ssl=1 103w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_out1-e1568068490942.jpg?resize=52%2C75&amp;ssl=1 52w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_out1-e1568068490942.jpg?w=160&amp;ssl=1 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 76px) 100vw, 76px\" \/><\/a>The third annual <a title=\"GFI Software\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gfi.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GFI Software<\/a>\u00a0IT Admin Stress Survey reveals that <strong>79% of IT staff<\/strong> are actively considering <strong>leaving their jobs due to job-related stress<\/strong>. According to GFI, that&#8217;s a significant increase from 2013, when just 57 percent of respondents said they were actively considering leaving.<\/p>\n<p>The survey of 200 U.S. IT administrators also found that the <strong>largest source<\/strong>\u00a0of<span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0work-related stress<\/span>\u00a0was <strong>management. 36%<\/strong> of the sample of IT professionals surveyed citing it as the biggest source of stress. An additional 34% cited a <strong>lack of budget and staff to get the job done<\/strong>, as a source of stress\u00a0despite the perceived improvement in the US job market.<\/p>\n<h3>Key survey findings:<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gfi.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-103839 size-full\" title=\"GF! Software logo\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/gfi_logo.png?resize=74%2C35&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"GF! Software logo\" width=\"74\" height=\"35\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>77% of U.S. IT staff surveyed consider their job <strong>stressful\u00a0<\/strong>up 12% over 2013<\/li>\n<li>38% have <strong>missed social functions<\/strong> due to overrunning issues at work<\/li>\n<li>35% report missing time with their <strong>families<\/strong> due to work demands on their personal time<\/li>\n<li>33% of IT staff regularly <strong>lose sleep<\/strong> over work pressures<\/li>\n<li>30% feel they are the most stressed person in their social or family group<\/li>\n<li>25% have suffered <strong>stress-related illness<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>24% have had a <strong>relationship severely damaged<\/strong> or fail due to their job<\/li>\n<li>17% complain of feeling in <strong>poor physical condition<\/strong> due to work demands<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190318025021\/http:\/\/sciencenordic.com:80\/working-banks-free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-103841\" title=\"12 hours of unpaid overtime each week.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/working_overtime.jpg?resize=100%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"12 hours of unpaid overtime each week.\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/working_overtime.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/working_overtime.jpg?resize=75%2C75&amp;ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/working_overtime.jpg?w=300&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px\" \/><\/a>On average, the IT workers surveyed would work eight and a half hours a week over and above their stated working hours, with 23% of the survey sample working between eight and 12 hours of <strong>unpaid overtime<\/strong> each week.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #333333;\">Sergio Galindo, general manager of the Infrastructure Business Unit at GFI Software, said in a\u00a0statement,<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #000000; text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px;\"><em>IT is renowned for being one of the most stressful white-collar jobs to undertake, now more so than ever given the critical role IT plays in everything from e-commerce to facilities management<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Good news for IT Pro&#8217;s<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sparkpeople.com\/blog\/blog.asp?post=decreasing_calories_can_increase_stress_level\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-103843\" title=\"Stress eating\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stress_eating-e1568068674769-150x113.jpg?resize=133%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Stress eating\" width=\"133\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stress_eating-e1568068674769.jpg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stress_eating-e1568068674769.jpg?resize=75%2C56&amp;ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stress_eating-e1568068674769.jpg?w=308&amp;ssl=1 308w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 133px) 100vw, 133px\" \/><\/a>In more good news for IT Pro&#8217;s a\u00a0<a title=\"New CareerBuilder Survey Finds Majority of Workers Feel They Are Overweight\" href=\"http:\/\/www.careerbuilder.com\/share\/aboutus\/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=4%2f17%2f2014&amp;siteid=cbpr&amp;sc_cmp1=cb_pr818_&amp;id=pr818&amp;ed=12%2f31%2f2014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">study<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a03,022 workers by <a title=\"CareerBuilder\" href=\"https:\/\/www.careerbuilder.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CareerBuilder<\/a>, reveals that information technology workers categorize themselves as <strong>overweight<\/strong> more than workers in any other industry. This is bad news because there is a <a title=\"Can Stress Cause Weight Gain?\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150211055935\/http:\/\/www.webmd.com:80\/diet\/features\/can-stress-cause-weight-gain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">link between<\/a> stress and weight gain.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is so bad that <strong>50% of IT workers call themselves overweight<\/strong>, the study says. Sectors that outpaced the national average for weight gain include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Information Technology \u2013 50 percent<\/li>\n<li>Government \u2013 48 percent<\/li>\n<li>Financial Services \u2013 46 percent<\/li>\n<li>Health Care \u2013 42 percent<\/li>\n<li>Professional and Business Services \u2013 42 percent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a title=\"FierceCIO \" href=\"https:\/\/www.fiercecio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>FierceCIO<\/em><\/a> says the estimated annual medical costs to an employer for those who are obese are $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\u00a0rb-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160905232953\/http:\/\/www.businessnewsdaily.com:80\/4229-information-technology-work-stress.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-103845\" title=\"disillusioned, stressed, unhappy, unhealthy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_worker.jpg?resize=134%2C110&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"disillusioned, stressed, unhappy, unhealthy\" width=\"134\" height=\"110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_worker.jpg?resize=150%2C123&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_worker.jpg?resize=75%2C62&amp;ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/stressed_worker.jpg?w=500&amp;ssl=1 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 134px) 100vw, 134px\" \/><\/a>Even though a disillusioned, stressed, unhappy, unhealthy IT staff may seem the norm for many organizations, (I&#8217;ve worked in this environment) it will lead to a crisis. The last place I managed at, it took a crisis-like job offer for the senior systems engineer to get management moving on addressing some of the very issues identified here. In the long run, they never brought on a high-caliber backup to cross-train and when he left they were left with a hole to fill on the\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Progressive organizations need to take the lead and make sure that their IT staff are happy, engaged, and content. Here are three suggestions to do so &#8211;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Gamify<\/strong> IT support. Break the ticket tedium and let agents compete against each other, give them incentives and challenges, let them view the points they accumulate. In short, take the boring out of the service desk.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #333332;\"><em>Let staff work right from their email to spend less time at work and more time with family \u2013 while maintaining or increasing productivity. No more setting up a VPN, logging into the help desk, finding the ticket, updating the ticket, and logging back out.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #333332;\"><em><strong>Automate<\/strong> everything, set up a Wiki, a FAQ, set up self-serve password resets, take the load off the agents. Some organizational direction towards this can take the effort a long way. Write scripts to automate new users and terminations.<\/em><\/p>\n<h6>Related articles<\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gfi.com\/blog\/survey-worklife-divide-the-gap-has-all-but-disappeared-thanks-to-email-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Survey: Work\/life divide? The gap has all but disappeared thanks to email [Infographic]<\/a> (gfi.com)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><a title=\"Ralph Bach\" href=\"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/new-resume\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ralph Bach<\/a>\u00a0has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his\u00a0<a title=\"Bach Seat\" href=\"https:\/\/rbach.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bach Seat<\/a> about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on <a class=\"broken_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rb48334\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ralph.bach.14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rbach48334\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter<\/a>. Email the Bach Seat\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:\/\/bach.seat@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GFI IT Stress Survey says 79% of IT staff want leave jobs due stress 77% consider their job stressful the largest source of work stress was the boss<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[363],"tags":[2292,2203,2201,2202,1360,726,2204,1359],"class_list":["post-70700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health-care","tag-2292","tag-automation","tag-careerbuilder","tag-gamification","tag-gfi","tag-health","tag-self-serve","tag-stress"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70700"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70700\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119811,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70700\/revisions\/119811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}