HR Guide to Measuring Workload

Achieving optimal workload is not as straightforward as equal task distribution. An organization must take multiple factors into account, including external elements, organizational components, job design, team dynamics, and individual differences.
To identify the right solutions, organizations must first invest the time and resources into measuring workload to uncover challenges and underlying causes.

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Critical Insight

Workload is not static; it is dynamic by nature and ebbs and flows over time in response to several factors. Achieving optimal workload requires ongoing commitment, action, and accurate measurement to uncover challenges and identify appropriate interventions.

Impact and Result

Organizations seeking to optimize workload must use a strategic approach to workload measurement, starting with identifying the driving need and scope for workload measurement.
Next, uncover existing workload challenges by collecting subjective, performance, and/or physiological data.
Data-driven selection and implementation of targeted interventions support the organization in addressing challenges uncovered through workload measurement.

HR Guide to Measuring Workload Research & Tools

1. Introduction to workload

Define workload and understand workload measurement.

HR Guide to Measuring Workload Executive Briefing

2. Workload measures

Prepare for workload measurement and collect data using subjective, performance, and/or physiological measures to uncover workload challenges.

3. Recommended interventions

Select and implement workload interventions at the organization, team, or individual level.

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McLean & Company is an HR research and advisory firm providing practical solutions to human resources challenges via executable research, tools, diagnostics, and advisory services that have a clear and measurable impact on your business.

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A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your HR problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

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Get the help you need in this 3-phase advisory process. You'll receive 6 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Review key workload measurement concepts.

Call 1: Discuss the importance of achieving optimal workload, including the definition of workload, related benefits and risks, and the role of workload measurement in supporting workload optimization.

Guided Implementation 2: Explore workload measures and prepare for workload measurement.

Call 1: Identify the driving need and scope for workload measurement.
Call 2: Review and select the type of measures to be used for data collection.
Call 3: Discuss insights gathered from workload measurement to identify where workload challenges exist and what their underlying causes are.

Guided Implementation 3: Select and prepare to implement workload interventions.

Call 1: Explore sample interventions to implement that address identified workload challenges and underlying causes.
Call 2: Outline next steps for communicating findings, implementing interventions, and preparing for continuous reevaluation of workload and workload distribution.