Burnout increasing among information technology workers

With budgets tight and workloads heavy, information technology workers at large U.S. companies are suffering from burnout, according to a new study. The Meta Group, a Stamford, Conn., research firm, surveyed IT managers at about 300 large companies and found that 71 percent of respondents believed that “employee burnout” among their staffs was a serious issue. The morale problems could lead to lower productivity and increased turnover if certain issues aren’t addressed, Meta Group said. A majority of companies surveyed were in the Fortune 1000. “IT people work longer hours than many other jobs,” said Maria Schafer, who conducted the survey. “I think you’re really at the point where doing more with less, or even doing the same with less, is really having a negative impact within IT.” IT companies have made dramatic cutbacks in staff and other resources as revenue has fallen in recent years. U.S. companies are no longer spending on technology as much as they were just a few years ago. Some analysts predict technology spending will rise slightly this year, but companies generally continue to limit their budgets. Also, some companies have trimmed their technology staffs or frozen hiring. Full Story