In many cases, corporate downsizing has forced an increased
work burden on the best and the brightest in the workforce. “The
price of showing competence is increasing responsibility and
work,” complains a manager at a small company. The fundamental problem with this situation is that it can be a short-term situation, at best. Executives and managers cannot effectively function
on a high-speed treadmill for extended periods of time. Judgments
suffer, and by trying to do too much, an organization risks mistakes. “Things could not be more intense,” says a senior executive
at a medium-sized company. “It’s impossible to keep track of all
the work, and it’s growing exponentially.”
In addition to working more hours, managers and executives
experience greater personal pressure because of added duties. “I
have more responsibility, my decisions have more of an impact on
the bottom line, but it does not necessarily take up more of my
time,” says one manager at a medium-sized company. “The number of hours is not necessarily commensurate with responsibility
level.”