When managers plan salaries and incentive compensation structures, they should consider whether their pay rates accurately reflect the time worked. In addition to salary planning, managers should be sure to pay attention to staff who may be burnt out from working too much. While the concept of a 40-hour work week is ingrained into Americans’ consciousness, a new report might turn this standard on its head and employees might be working more than they think. A recent Gallup poll found the average full-time worker clocked in 47 hours per week. The number of average hours worked by U.S. employees has risen each year since 2005-2006. Gallup said workers are often on the job more than 40 hours because of their pay structure since salaried staff work more hours than hourly staff. “Hourly workers can be restricted in the amount they work by employers who don’t need or can’t afford to pay overtime,” Gallup said in a report. “By contrast, salaried workers generally don’t face this issue. And, perhaps as a result, salaried employees work five hours more per week, on average, than full-time hourly workers (49 vs. 44, respectively), according to the 2014 Work and Education survey.” Burn out and productivity levels Although more Americans are spending a greater amount of time at work, they may not be using their time as wisely as they should. Distractions at work combined with inefficient processes for getting the job done may decrease productivity levels. Lower productivity can also be an indication that workers are burnt out. Employees who work too much could experience job burnout, a specific kind of job stress, which manifests itself in a variety of ways, according to the Mayo Clinic. The signs of burnout include lacking consistency at work, not feeling fulfilled by their accomplishments or being disinterested in their job. While the effects of burnout are huge, the signs of this condition are subtle and might be hard for managers to pick up. In order to improve their ability to detect burnout, managers should use sales performance management solutions to accurately record and analyze employee-related data regarding quotas, productivity and more. Companies should provide their workers with tools for managing their time to prevent workers from spending too long on certain projects and ensure they deliver consistent performance. As more companies invest in more efficient solutions, they can help their workers save time and focus on their own well-being. If you’re looking for a salary planning software solution for your business, discover Iconixx Merit™