A new survey report, Achievements, Aspirations and Attitudes: Measuring the Public Sector Experience, reveals a glimpse into the post-pandemic reality of the digital employee experience across UK public sector organisations. While adaptation at large has been successful, there’s still significant challenges to be addressed.

The research, sponsored by Lakeside Software in association with GovNews, showed that IT issues significantly hamper productivity for more than 80% of workers, leading to job retention challenges and dissatisfaction. It also highlighted the disparity between employees’ emphasis on their own digital experience and their organisations’ perception of it.

The report highlights several key points. First, over 80% of workers in the public sector face challenges related to reduced productivity, primarily stemming from IT issues, This significant productivity impact is a concerning trend.

Secondly, a noteworthy finding is that 11% of staff members have seriously contemplated leaving their jobs due to the severity of IT issues they encounter, raising concerns about job retention within the public sector.

Additionally, the report reveals that nearly 50% of respondents are dissatisfied with their organization’s digital employee experience, indicating room for improvement.

Lastly, given that more than four-fifths of public sector employees now work from various locations, there is a strong demand for a seamless and consistent digital experience, regardless of their work location. Consistency is seen as crucial in this context.

Despite adopting new technologies and work models, 82% of respondents reported feeling “frequent” or “occasional” frustration with their digital workplace experience. Reported issues stem from IT systems that often hinder public sector workers’ ability to complete tasks effectively.

Recommended reading

• Scottish startups remain hopful despite facing a challenging year
• AI: Cyber-friend or cyber-foe?
• Scottish Space Companies Celebrate Satellite Success

Connection problems emerged as the most prevalent IT issues, affecting 68% of respondents. Following closely behind were slow-running and application-related challenges (56% and 55%, respectively).

Not all problems are reported or fixed, however. The data finds that 23% of respondents rarely or never report IT issues, resulting in a state of “silent suffering” that creates blind spots for IT teams to resolve issues that may affect multiple staff at once.

This unsettling pulse check adds to concerns outlined in the House of Lords Public Services Committee report, ‘Fit for the future? Rethinking the public services workforce,” which cautioned of a potential staffing crisis caused by a “vicious circle” of demand, staff shortages, falling morale and problems of recruitment and retention.