How to Calculate Employee Workload Accurately

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Learn how to calculate workload based on government regulations by multiplying work hours and workdays. Get measurable and effective results—read more here.

Accurately calculating employee workload is essential for maintaining both productivity and employee well-being. Unmeasured workload can lead to stress, reduced performance, and high turnover. In today’s competitive business environment, managing workload effectively is key to operational efficiency. This article explains the proper methods for calculating workload based on official regulations and practical applications. 

Check out the full explanation below!

Workload Calculation Based on Official Standards

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance Regulation No. 175/PMK.01/2016, the effective working time per employee is 6 hours and 25 minutes per day—or approximately 6.4 hours. You can calculate the effective workload using this simple formula:

Workdays × Working Hours = Effective Workload

Let’s use a practical example. If a company sets 22 workdays in a month, the calculation would be:

22 days × 6.4 hours = 140.8 hours per month

This number serves as a baseline to assess whether the assigned tasks align with the available working time.

For instance, if an administrative staff member handles 10 tasks with a total estimated workload of 160 hours per month, then they are overloaded by:

160 hours – 140.8 hours = 19.2 hours

This means the employee may need support or have some of their tasks reallocated. Conversely, if the total workload is only 110 hours, there’s an excess of 30.8 hours that can be optimized—either by adding responsibilities or redistributing tasks from overloaded coworkers.

Read Also: 3 Effective and Objective Ways to Evaluate Employee Performance

3 Common Methods for Analyzing Employee Workload

Different analysis methods can be used depending on the company’s scale and job nature. Here are several popular approaches:

1. Standard Time Method

This method involves observing and recording the time needed to complete a task under normal conditions. This becomes the standard time. Multiply it by the number of tasks performed daily or monthly, then compare it with the employee’s available time. This method is best suited for repetitive tasks, especially in manufacturing or operations.

2. Job Analysis Method

This approach reviews detailed job descriptions. Each listed activity is assessed for complexity and completion time. Commonly used in administrative or managerial roles with less repetitive tasks.

3. Quantitative Workload Method

This method gathers data on work volume, such as the number of emails to answer, documents to process, or customers to serve per day. This data is then compared with actual working time to determine whether the employee is overloaded or underutilized.

By combining these methods as needed, companies can gain a holistic view of their workforce’s workload distribution.

4 Key Benefits of Calculating Employee Workload

Workload assessment is more than an administrative task—it’s a strategic move that balances productivity and employee well-being. Here are some key benefits:

1. Improved Employee Productivity

Knowing the ideal workload allows for smarter task allocation. Employees who are not overloaded tend to be more focused, efficient, and produce higher-quality work, boosting overall company performance.

2. Preventing Burnout and Maintaining Mental Health

Burnout is a growing concern. Regular workload checks help detect overload early, allowing for task redistribution or additional hiring if needed.

3. Accurate Recruitment Planning

Rather than guessing when to hire, workload analysis offers concrete data. If workloads exceed capacity, it’s a clear signal to open recruitment backed by actual need.

Read Also: 6 Effective Strategies for Employee Performance Appraisal

4 Ways to Address Excessive Workload

Once a workload issue is identified, companies should take corrective action. Here are some practical solutions:

1. Task Evaluation and Redistribution

Start by reviewing all assigned tasks. Are they all necessary and appropriate for the employee? If not, redistribute tasks to colleagues with more capacity.

2. Utilize Technology Support

Automation can significantly reduce manual workload. For example, data entry can be streamlined using project management software.

3. Employee Training and Development 

Sometimes, workload feels overwhelming because employees haven’t yet developed optimal skills. By providing training programs, companies can improve efficiency and shorten the time required to complete each task.

Managing excessive workload is certainly not easy, but with a systematic approach, businesses can maintain a balance between achieving their goals and protecting employee well-being.

4. Recruitment or Outsourcing

If the workload has clearly exceeded the capacity of existing employees, hiring additional staff becomes the only viable solution. Companies may consider using outsourcing services to save time and reduce operational costs.

With outsourcing, businesses can immediately gain access to trained, job-ready personnel without having to handle the selection process and administrative setup from scratch.

Read Also: 5 Strategies to Recruit High-Quality and Professional Employees

Solve Workload Overload with SOS’s Reliable Workforce Solutions

SOS offers professional workforce services for various sectors, from administration and logistics operations to security. With trained, standardized, and ready-to-deploy staff, SOS helps businesses boost productivity. We also provide workforce flexibility to match your needs—allowing you to focus on your core business operations.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact SOS via WhatsApp now and get high-quality, dependable workers to support your operational success!

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