Protect Those Skills

There is increasing realization that the social and knowledge capital of an organization are part of its working capital. Retention of skills and protection of intellectual property are boardroom issues now since they affect the competitiveness and financial health of the organization.

Jenkinson says that one of the big triggers for stress in IT workers is change, and in order to manage the consequences of change his company runs an international reskilling program so staff are better "equipped to move with the changing times". It also runs a number of stress-busting programs. "An example in Sydney is one of our solutions centres is rolling out the Fish program, which involves all employees making the work environment better and having some fun at work. Another Sydney location has implemented lunchtime yoga." The company also encourages employees to volunteer time to support charities.

Work-life balance as a concept has received massive attention recently, indeed to the point of ridicule, with some now believing it less a cliche and more a chimera. They argue balance is not possible - work or life will always outweigh the other, depending on an individual's perspective. More popular now is the notion that life and work can be compartmentalized - with some space for work, some for family, some for self and so on.

So how can CIOs create an environment that allows this compartmentalization, that allows the business to flourish and deadlines to be met without sacrificing the workforce on the altar of stress?

According to McElwee, work-life balance is very important in the long run, just as much as a balanced diet and exercise is to our health.

"CIOs can do a lot - as any people manager can - within the existing constraints of the organization, such as insisting on recreation leave being taken so it is properly planned for in big projects, identifying and removing single point dependencies in the workforce, monitoring sick leave patters to identify any individuals who might need individual assistance, not to distance themselves from the workforce, and be an appropriate role model for the IT group in demonstrating a personal commitment to achieving work-life balance."

Now, along with their other duties, that is not too stressful an ask of CIOs, is it?

SIDEBAR: Burnout: Warning Signs

• Working longer and longer hours to get the same job done
• Unusual tension and irritability
• Non-communication - even silence
• Repeated absences that form a pattern
• Usually jovial people who turn nasty
• Inertia and prolonged indecisiveness
• Increasing unscheduled time off work
• Missing deadlines
• Avoidance behaviours