TD Magazine Article
Member Benefit
Workplace Productivity Drains
Content
Wasting time? So are your co-workers.
Wasting time? So are your co-workers.
Mon Sep 08 2014
Content
If you work in an office environment, you've probably engaged in less-than-productive activities on company time. Perhaps you checked your Facebook account, sent a text to your sweetheart, or shared the latest office gossip with your colleague in the next cubicle. A recent CareerBuilder study confirms that you are not alone.
If you work in an office environment, you've probably engaged in less-than-productive activities on company time. Perhaps you checked your Facebook account, sent a text to your sweetheart, or shared the latest office gossip with your colleague in the next cubicle. A recent CareerBuilder study confirms that you are not alone.
Content
Unproductive behaviors are not uncommon at work, and data gathered from more than 5,000 human resource professionals, employers, and full-time employees show that there are several common enemies of workplace productivity.
Unproductive behaviors are not uncommon at work, and data gathered from more than 5,000 human resource professionals, employers, and full-time employees show that there are several common enemies of workplace productivity.
Content
Given our society's heavy reliance on mobile devices and incessant activity on social media, it is no surprise that technology-related distractions figure prominently on CareerBuilder's top 10 list:
Given our society's heavy reliance on mobile devices and incessant activity on social media, it is no surprise that technology-related distractions figure prominently on CareerBuilder's top 10 list:
Content
cellphone/texting, 50 percent
cellphone/texting, 50 percent
Content
gossip, 42 percent
gossip, 42 percent
Content
the Internet, 39 percent
the Internet, 39 percent
Content
social media, 38 percent
social media, 38 percent
Content
snack breaks or smoke breaks, 27 percent
snack breaks or smoke breaks, 27 percent
Content
noisy co-workers, 24 percent
noisy co-workers, 24 percent
Content
meetings, 23 percent
meetings, 23 percent
Content
email, 23 percent
email, 23 percent
Content
co-workers dropping by, 23 percent
co-workers dropping by, 23 percent
Content
co-workers putting calls on speakerphone, 10 percent.
co-workers putting calls on speakerphone, 10 percent.
Content
With so many distractions leading to poor performance, most employers (73 percent) report that they use certain tactics to combat these time-wasters. Among the most common measures are blocking certain Internet sites (36 percent do this), prohibiting the personal use of cellphones (25 percent), and monitoring email and Internet usage (22 percent).
With so many distractions leading to poor performance, most employers (73 percent) report that they use certain tactics to combat these time-wasters. Among the most common measures are blocking certain Internet sites (36 percent do this), prohibiting the personal use of cellphones (25 percent), and monitoring email and Internet usage (22 percent).
Content
Although these preventive measures may work, it is ultimately up to employees to ensure that they are working up to their full potential. Rosemary Haefner, vice president of HR at CareerBuilder, suggests that employees "be organized and designate times to work on different deliverables. Minimize interruptions and save personal communications for your lunch hour or break."
Although these preventive measures may work, it is ultimately up to employees to ensure that they are working up to their full potential. Rosemary Haefner, vice president of HR at CareerBuilder, suggests that employees "be organized and designate times to work on different deliverables. Minimize interruptions and save personal communications for your lunch hour or break."
Content
Haefner also recommends avoiding unnecessary meetings and communicating wisely (call or walk to a colleague's desk instead of crafting an email) as ways to prevent wasting time at work.
Haefner also recommends avoiding unnecessary meetings and communicating wisely (call or walk to a colleague's desk instead of crafting an email) as ways to prevent wasting time at work.