IT Pros Weigh Salary, Flexibility, and Mental Health as Burnout Looms

IT professionals are overwhelmed by long hours and lack of support, and while a higher salary is the most compelling reason IT pros are likely to seek new jobs, also high on the list are a desire for more personal fulfillment, personal/family needs, and less stress.

These were among the results of ITPro Today's 2024 Salary Report, which surveyed 455 full-time U.S. IT professionals. More than a third (37%) of respondents said they were "likely" or "highly likely" to look for a new job within the next 12 months (Figure 1). That's 9% higher than respondents to ITPro Today's 2023 Salary Survey.

Figure 1

Base pay, benefits, and company stability were the top-ranked priorities for IT pros, while a flexible work schedule was cited by a third of respondents (Figure 2). Somewhat surprisingly, especially considering how much IT pros said they value a flexible work schedule, overall work-life balance, at 24%, didn't even break into the top 10 priorities for IT pros. In comparison, last year, at 45%, work-life balance held the top spot, ahead of even base pay.

Figure 2

Particularly striking was the rise in the number of IT pros who said the possibility to work remotely is a factor in switching jobs — nearly a third (32%) cited it in this year's survey, up from a quarter of respondents in the 2023 survey (Figure 3).

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Figure 3

Changing Trends in Work Culture

Randi Weitzman, executive director of technology staffing services for Robert Half, said in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in workplace culture it brought about, individuals in the technology space have gotten a taste of what it's like to work with a more flexible schedule.

"To be honest, that's what can attract a candidate to a company these days, and some of them may be even more inclined to take a lower salary if they're going to get the flexibility to work in a more hybrid environment," she said.

While compensation is still the key motivator, Weitzman noted that candidates are also looking for offers of better benefits and perks, as evidenced by ITPro Today's 2024 IT Salary Report, which found that respondents expect health insurance, matching 401(k) benefits, and company-paid mobile phones (Figure 4).

Figure 4

"I see a lot of health and wellness perks on offer, whether that's gym memberships, flexible schedules, or personal development opportunities," Weitzman said.

Weitzman said she believes in offering various types of training — a perk about one-fifth (21%, down from 26% last year) of IT pros expect to receive during the next 12 months, according to our salary survey — to help employees enhance their skills and advance their careers, recognizing that professional growth is a crucial aspect of employee benefits beyond compensation packages.

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Training on new technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and the ability to take certification courses were the top two training opportunities respondents to our salary survey said they felt would help their careers (Figure 5).

Figure 5

Overall, IT professionals indicated that they are less satisfied with not only their total compensation package compared with last year (Figure 6), but also their overall job satisfaction (Figure 7).

Figure 6

Figure 7

Work-Life Balance a Critical Component

For many people, gone are the days of accepting a higher salary in exchange for having to work around the clock, and employees who value a healthy work-life balance in a current job are less likely to accept a new job that tilts the balance back toward work.

That's the perspective of Michael Brown, vice president of technology at Auvik, who explained that he used to spend a lot of time in the car commuting to and from the office — now his office is a few short steps away. According to our salary survey, IT professionals claim working remotely has had the most positive impact on their mental health (Figure 8).

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Figure 8

"I use this extra time to support my family's activities, to help around the house, or to sit and enjoy a coffee and a crossword puzzle," Brown said. "Having the office so close at hand means it's also easier to do bits and pieces of work at any time."

Depending on the individual's perspective, this can be a blessing or a curse — one may prefer to fit small tasks into spare time, but one may also feel obligated to work after hours, he added.

"Regardless, having this flexibility allows me to have control over my day, which prompts for better work-life balance," Brown said.

Andrea Malagodi, CIO of Sonar, said many of his team members use the concept of "focus time" to help them set allocated quiet time in their workday.

"This allows for a deep dive into a project and avoid high levels of context switching, which can effectively be a cause for being overwhelmed and a higher propensity for burnout," he said.

Malagodi recommended that managers be intentional in their efforts to support focus time to ensure colleagues are encouraged to take time for deep-focus work.

"Lastly, enterprises can help by enabling an environment that fits flexible working arrangements — for example, use of BYOD devices," he said.

On the other hand, Malagodi admitted that the unfortunate side effect is that with this ubiquitous access to work environments, it is a slippery slope also in terms of always being "on."

"Allowing employees to use their personal devices implies a much higher level of required self-discipline to not end up being always on," he said.

As it is, more than a quarter of IT professionals (28%) report being unable to complete their tasks within a standard 40- to 45-hour workweek (Figure 9), leading to the temptation to work during off-hours.

Figure 9

Employer Transparency on Work-Life Balance

Hired CEO Josh Brenner said companies must adapt and be transparent with their strategies to meet employees' expectations regarding work-life balance and other benefits.

While volatility in the tech industry is imposing lower salaries, on average, compared with previous years, prospective IT employees may have a better opportunity to champion for benefits they value in the workplace (e.g., remote work flexibility, PTO, and health) in place of higher compensation.

Brenner cautioned that flexible work arrangements, while offering unique benefits such asynchronous communication, can inadvertently create a permeable barrier between work and personal life. 

"This may require establishing clear boundaries to prevent work from encroaching on personal time," he said.

A structured sign-off routine can be highly effective, including shutting down work computers, silencing notifications on work platforms, and even setting designated work hours on personal devices.

In addition, prioritizing activities that promote relaxation and/or disengagement, such as volunteering, mindfulness practices, or simply unwinding, helps maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Companies should also offer mental health services. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents to our salary survey said their employer does offer services or help for mental health (Figure 10).

Figure 10

Traci Soward, chief marketing officer at Gluware, suggested employers that put the focus on the whole person will attract and retain the best talent.

"That talent should be paid based on their work output, not where they get their work done," she said.

She said customers and partners are more important than everyone being at the corporate office, and the leaders that understand this have a competitive advantage in today's environment.

"Ultimately, a culture that's rooted in employee empowerment will yield better competitive results," Soward said.

Addressing Burnout, Boosting Productivity

Brenner pointed out that amidst RTO mandates and increasingly demanding jobs, burnout is a growing concern in the tech industry.

This is borne out in the results of our salary survey regarding stress levels among IT professionals. A quarter of respondents reported that, on a scale of 1-10, their stress level was an alarming 8 or higher (Figure 11).

Figure 11

"However, it's important to remember that there are proactive steps individuals can take to prevent [burnout]," Brenner said. "First and foremost, prioritize the most urgent tasks at hand."

He said that while it is important to stay mindful of future tasks, worrying about them can be cognitively draining and detrimental to current responsibilities.

And although it may feel critical to work outside of standard hours to meet deadlines, it's equally important to set boundaries and prioritize personal time. In ITPro Today's 2024 IT Salary Survey, 43% of respondents reported feeling overworked as negatively affecting their mental health, while 37% cited long hours as having a negative effect (Figure 12).

Figure 12

"Discovering a schedule that suits your needs, such as starting work earlier in the day, can help boost productivity," he advised.

Taking a break during the day to walk the dog, work out, or engage in totally different task, whether it's listening to a podcast or running an errand, can also help people reinvigorate their minds and return to work more focused.

"In any job, training and professional development are critical as new technologies emerge and industry trends change," Brown said.

He said companies should be motivated to help their employees learn new skills and become more productive.

"Be honest about what's important to you," Brown advised. "Taking on too much work and tilting the balance can have a negative impact on your happiness and mental health."