Employee productivity can be something that makes or breaks your business. But it can be a challenge to get your employees to be as passionate as you are. And in other cases, it’s the systems at your business that make it difficult for your employees to be productive.

Today’s employees are being asked to take on more duties, learn new skills, and work longer hours – without an increase in pay or benefits – leaving them stressed and overworked. Employees are working longer hours without the hope of a raise or sometimes even the opportunity to use their vacation time.

A good white collar job provides all sorts of comforts in the office for the employees, such as the air-conditioning to keep everyone cool, hot coffee and break rooms where they can take a breather. But for all of the little pleasure these perks present, the boredom in routine daily tasks can still set in, and a heavy workload can overburden and stress employees. Boredom and/or stress can then lead to unmotivated and burnt out employees turning in mediocre work.

If you want to improve productivity in the workplace, make sure employees are accountable for their goals and their assignments. Don’t simply give generic orders. Be specific. Delegate duties to individuals and make sure the individual understands the responsibility involved with the task; make sure he/she understand that the accountability of that task rests solely on his/her shoulders.