“If you see something, say something.” That’s the slogan for the Department of Homeland Security’s anti-terrorism campaign, but it’s also pretty good advice for anyone experiencing computer problems at work. Promptly reporting issues to the IT help desk helps ensure problems get resolved as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, business users are often reluctant to report slow or malfunctioning PCs. Many worry that reporting issues will make them appear incompetent and lead to negative repercussions from their supervisor or colleagues. Others simply feel it will be faster and easier to fix the problem themselves or come up with a functional workaround. In truth, failure to report small IT problems such as slow boot times, patchy network connectivity, and application crashes can ultimately create bigger issues such as:

• Lost productivity. Studies show that the average U.S. worker wastes about two hours a week — or more than two weeks per year — trying to sort out their own PC issues.

• New problems. Do-it-yourself PC repairs can sometimes make problems worse and cause more damage.

• More downtime. According to a recent report by Vanson Bourne, failure to resolve IT issues quickly can double a company’s annual downtime totals.

• Increased costs. Problems that remain unresolved for too long will eventually require more extensive repairs, perhaps involving the replacement of hardware or software.

• Decreased morale. Unresolved issues and ongoing work interruptions can frustrate employees and contribute to increased turnover.

• Increased risk. Unreported IT issues can also create openings for hackers to gain access to systems. Additionally, PC performance problems could indicate a “cryptojacking” attack.

Unreported IT issues negatively impact an organization in a variety of ways. It is important for employees to report IT issues promptly to IT to ensure that problems are addressed in a timely and effective manner.