Cutting unnecessary tasks shows surprising links to greater employee exhaustion

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, attention is turning to the question of what causes psychological strain at work. A study by Bielefeld University shows that inappropriate tasks are not the only factor associated with exhaustion.

Changes in day-to-day work can also leave employees feeling exhausted, even when the number of burdensome tasks decreases. Perceived uncertainty plays an important role. The study is published in the journal Work & Stress.

Working life often involves a wide range of tasks, but not every task feels necessary or appropriate to employees. Researchers refer to these as "illegitimate tasks." These are tasks that employees perceive as unnecessary or unreasonable, for example, because they do not fit their actual role. The study examines a question that has received less attention so far: What happens when the extent of such tasks changes?

Researchers at Bielefeld University repeatedly surveyed employees in two studies—once a day in one study and once a week in the other. This allowed them to examine how changes in everyday work relate to employees' experiences. "This makes visible an aspect of workload that can easily be overlooked in a one-time survey.

From a practical perspective, the findings suggest that changes in tasks should be explained clearly and that employees should have the opportunity to ask questions," says professor Kai C. Bormann, a co-author of the study. The findings are surprising: Both increases and decreases in illegitimate tasks were associated with higher levels of emotional exhaustion than a stable level of such tasks.

One possible explanation is perceived uncertainty. When tasks change, it can also become less clear what will be expected of employees in the future. The study thus highlights an aspect of workplace stress that often remains invisible: It is not only the extent of illegitimate tasks that matters.