About 56.5 hours lost per employee due to technology-related stress

70% of employees said data-overload led to workplace stress.

An average of more than seven working days, or 56.5 hours of production, is lost per employee in local companies due to delayed work and sick leaves stemming from technology-related stress, according to a report by Qilk and Accenture. This is said to equate to $5.1b in lost productivity.

Seven in 10 respondents reported that data overload has contributed to workplace stress, culminating in nearly half or 47% of the local workforce taking at least one day of sick leave.

The report noted that there are two ways in which the data literacy gap manifests in Singapore organisations: the sparse number of employees using data for decision making, and the lack of data skills amongst employees.

Despite nearly all employees (90%) recognising data as an asset, few are using it to inform workplace decision-making. The report showed that only a quarter (26%) believe they’re fully equipped to use data effectively, with more than half (53%) frequently deferring to “gut feeling” rather than data-driven insights in making workplace decisions.

Meanwhile, the lack of employees’ data skills is reflected in the study’s findings, with 40% stating that they are willing to find an alternative method to using data in completing work tasks.