How non-tech workers annoy their IT teams

New data from SolarWinds shines a light on the everyday irritations, buzzword fatigue and quiet frustrations felt by IT professionals across the globe.

The survey of 437 global IT professionals reveals a workforce that feels overlooked, underappreciated, and irritated by their colleagues. Almost one in five (19%) say that hearing either “I didn’t touch anything” or “You’re good with computers, right?” makes their soul want to leave their body. That’s closely followed by the classic: “The Wi-Fi’s broken” (18%).

The jargon being used by office workers isn’t helping either. Nearly a third (31%) say that “AI” is the buzzword most likely to make them want to chuck their monitor out the window, followed by “digital transformation” (15%) and “seamless integration” (13%).

But it’s not just what people say, it’s also their behaviour. Almost a third (31%) of IT professionals say people only notice them when something explodes, while 28% wish colleagues understood they’re juggling requests from every department, not just theirs.

So, what do IT teams actually want from their colleagues and company? While 65% say they’d love an unlimited IT budget, more than half (51%) say that a simple, heartfelt “thank you” would go a long way. Another 37% would settle for a public apology from non-IT staff.

Commenting on the findings, Sascha Giese, Tech Evangelist at SolarWinds, said: “Every day, IT professionals keep networks secure, services running, and hybrid work alive. But it’s often without fanfare and usually without thanks. Instead, they’re constantly bombarded with frustrating jargon, unrealistic demands, and phrases that make their blood boil.

“While there may be no cure for corporate buzzwords, and no such thing as an unlimited IT budget, there’s still plenty non-IT staff can do to make life easier for our misunderstood and underappreciated IT teams. A little patience goes a long way, and a simple ‘thank you’ might just be the easiest fix you give them all year.”

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