What a Waste! Brits Lose 1/3 of Each Working Day

British employees are wasting up to 80 working days every year through inefficient office practices, according to a study by Research Now for BACS Payment Schemes Limited. The leading time-wasters are technology (48 minutes), 'dealing with colleagues' (34 minutes), and unnecessary phone calls and meetings (26 and 23 mins respectively).

The alarming total is based on average wastage of 160 minutes per day, with an 8 hours working day and 48 working week year. The client, a non-profit making organisation whose primary role is to enhance automated payments and related services, owns Direct Debit and BACS Direct Credit.

Fifth and sixth on the list are 'sifting through unnecessary e-mails' (16 mins) and 'searching for files / info that hasn't been filed in the right place' (13 mins).

Technology problems contributing to the chart-topping 48 minutes a day include slow computers, computers crashing and print jams. Michael Chambers, MD of BACS Payment Schemes Ltd, comments: 'No office can ever be 100% efficient - but it's ironic that so much time is being wasted on computers, printers and fax machines, the very devices that we trust to streamline office processes and make the working day more productive'. The company has developed 'The Little Book of Time Wasting', downloadable at www.paymedirect.co.uk , to offer a little light relief along with 'some practical advice on managing day-to-day office irritations'.

73% of those interviewed cited unnecessary emails and 88% unnecessary telephone calls as frustrating. The barrage of unwanted communication is said to be one factor in the finding that nearly one quarter (23%) of office workers interviewed are considering a career change to a new non office-based job.

53% disagree that office processes are now simpler than 10 years ago and 56% go so far as to say that outdated office processes and practices have 'a negative impact on their personal life'. According to psychologist Nicola Barber, 'Most British workers are doing more than their contractual hours - the vast majority without overtime pay. By addressing inefficiencies some companies may be able to reduce the hours employees need to spend at work, and at the same time, keep the workforce happy and motivated'.

ResearchNow interviewed 1103 office workers across 11 different regions of GB (offices of 5+ employees) between 25 February and 3 March 2005. Research Now is online at www.researchnow.co.uk

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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