Question

Explain the definition, reasons and consequenses of monotony at work. Provide information about the theories explaining the results/effects of monotony on employees. Propose some methods for eliminating the problems of monotony.

Answer 1

Monotony can be either mental or physical. In the physical world, it refers to repeating the same actions over and over again. For example, factory workers can classify their jobs as monotonous. In the workplace, mental monotony refers to performing the same task without doing much thinking regarding how it should be done. In either scenario, monotony significantly decreases the morale of employees. A few reasons for monotony can be:

• Lack of learning - A job is not only a source of money but also a source of knowledge. If a job does not teach the employee anything new then it can soon become monotonous and unproductive for the employee.
• Lack of challenging tasks – There is a correlation between job difficulty and employee satisfaction. If the job is more challenging then what the employee can handle, then it increases stress. However, if a job does not challenge the skills and capabilities of the employee, then it will lead to monotony and dissatisfaction.
• Not enough work to cause satisfaction – In extension to the above point, if an employee feels that he has a lot of free time at work, then he might feel that the job is too easy and hence too monotonous.
• Too much work – Excess work increases stress and makes work seem like a repetitive motion of difficult tasks.

Monotony in the workplace can be resolved by:

• Job Enlargement – It refers to increasing the scope of the job that is assigned to the employee. This ensures that the employee is constantly occupied with new tasks which will keep him motivated while at the same time ensure that he feels he is contributing to the organization.
• Employee participation – Ensuring that the employees have a say in important decision-making processes will make sure that they are attached to the organization.
• Change in profile – Regardless of the passion that an employee has for a certain profile, the enthusiasm will wear off sooner or later. In order to reduce monotony, it might be a wise decision to temporarily transfer the employee to a different section or department to provide some variation.
• Compartmentalization – Trying to scale a mountain might seem like a repetitive series of steps that need to be taken. However, dividing the big goal into sub-goals or sub-tasks will give a more frequent sense of accomplishment which will encourage the employee to keep moving with the same determination.
• Sponsored holidays – Working regularly can not only prove repetitive but also taxing. Providing occasional holidays will not only give the employees a much-needed break but also encourage employee bonding that is another important factor to reduce monotony at work.