IT Staff Feel They Are Treated Worse Than Their Peers

Take a long, hard look around the IT department. There is a good chance that half the people in there feel oppressed, according to research from recruitment agency IntaPeople.

In a survey of 200 UK IT professionals, the agency found that 48 percent of them feel that they are treated “slightly worse” or “much worse” than their fellow employees. Just 14 percent felt they were treated better.

A Long-Term View Is Needed

“Many IT professionals clearly feel they are not receiving the same treatment as their colleagues,” said Phil Handley, operations director at IntaPeople. “It is not unusual for incentives to be focused mainly around the sales team, but it is just as important that firms recognise and reward the contribution of those supporting this function.”

His view was also supported by the fact that 29 percent felt that a pay rise would make them feel happier but, showing a truly professional view, 38 percent said that a positive response to their long-term goals would be enough.

Ongoing training obviously forms a key part of supporting these long term goals. One respondent noted: “Employers need to be aware that IT employees need to keep up to date. A savvy IT professional is always aware that their skills can become rapidly obsolete.”

Handley pointed out that part of this training can be given by providing better tools. “IT workers are ever mindful that they operate within a fast-moving industry, and would therefore prefer to join a company that allows them to improve their skills and work with up-to-date systems, as opposed to using older technologies that are unsupported and could severely limit their potential,” he said.

If they feel dissatisfied, what would make an IT professional quit? Poor management was the top answer for 38 percent of the respondents and 20 percent said low pay.

“It’s all too easy to overlook the significance of some of the day-to-day duties carried out by IT staff,” Handley said, “and, unfortunately, their true value is often only realised after they have left.”

When leaving is on the agenda a large proportion of the professionals felt that job opportunities will increase in the next year. Though the feeling was definitely mixed, 43 percent felt prospects would improve despite 31 percent taking a pessimistic view of a worsening employment market.

One statistic showed that it may not take much to retain a happy IT workforce. 21 percent said that a kind word now and again would make them feel more valued.