MENLO PARK, CA, Oct. 22, 2008 -- IT workers are accomplishing more with fewer resources these days, but a recent survey shows it’s taking a toll. More than one-third (36 percent) of chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed said rising workloads are the greatest source of stress for their teams. More than one in five CIOs (22 percent) cited the pace of new technology as the biggest stressor, followed by office politics, at 18 percent.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. It was based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees.

CIOs were asked, “Which of the following do you think is the greatest source of workplace stress for IT professionals?” Their responses:

Rising workloads             36% 
The pace of new technology   22% 
Office politics              18%
Work/life balance issues     11% 
Commuting                     7% 
Other                         2% 
None                          2% 
Don't know/no answer          2% 
                            100% 

“Too much work may sound like a relatively good problem to have in today’s uncertain economic climate,” said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, “but overstressed IT workers are unlikely to perform at their best. The pressure of mounting workloads, combined with ever-evolving technologies and office politics, can quickly erode morale and adversely affect productivity.”

Lee continued, “Many companies are addressing workload challenges by bringing in IT professionals on a contract basis to support full-time employees. Businesses also are making available training and professional development opportunities to help IT workers keep pace with new technology and improve retention rates.”

Aside from these tangible strategies to alleviate stress, employers can make more subtle yet equally beneficial changes. “Managers who open the lines of communication among their employees can keep teams motivated and ensure that office politics don’t derail priority projects,” said Lee.

About the Survey

The national survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. The survey is based on more than 1,400 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees. In order for the survey to be statistically representative and ensure that companies from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by geographic region, industry and number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper proportions of the number of employees within each region.

About Robert Half Technology

With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at www.rht.com.