Here’s some worrying news about IT workers that their bosses are raising a red flag about: Techs now do a lot more with a lot less, and the stress is building.

That’s the news from a recent survey of CIOs from Robert Half Technologies, an IT staffing provider. According to the survey, IT workers are getting more done with fewer resources these days, and the trend is taking a toll.

More than one-third — 36% — of CIOs interviewed said rising workloads are the greatest source of stress for their teams. More than one in five CIO, 22%, cited the pace of new technology as the biggest stressor, followed by office politics, at 18%.

The survey was based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees.

CIOs were asked, “Which of the following do you think is the greatest source of workplace stress for IT professionals?” Their responses:

“Too much work may sound like a relatively good problem to have in today’s uncertain economic climate,” said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, “but overstressed IT workers are unlikely to perform at their best. The pressure of mounting workloads, combined with ever-evolving technologies and office politics, can quickly erode morale and adversely affect productivity.”

Lee continued, “Many companies are addressing workload challenges by bringing in IT professionals on a contract basis to support full-time employees. Businesses also are making available training and professional development opportunities to help IT workers keep pace with new technology and improve retention rates.”

Aside from these tangible strategies to alleviate stress, employers can make more subtle yet equally beneficial changes. “Managers who open the lines of communication among their employees can keep teams motivated and ensure that office politics don’t derail priority projects,” said Lee.

Tags: burning out, IT staff, Robert Half, stress