Serving over 2 Million visitors each year

Search
Comprehensive Online Business Insurance
Tailored PI, Office, Public & Employers' Liability Insurance
Are you covered? Read our Essential PI Guide
Get a Quote and buy online in minutes

Misuse of office technology adds more than two hours to the working day

print  e-mail 

The misuse of telephones and email at work is hindering workers from doing their jobs, increasing bad habits at work and lengthening the working day according to a national study released by ntl:Telewest Business this month.

Highlighted in the research was the over-reliance on voicemail when returning or making phone calls, having to wait for people to call you back before you get the answer you require. Similarly, a delay caused by having to wait for emails to be answered with relevant information was another area that increased time wastage each day.

Two hours, 10 minutes was the amount that people wasted each day at work on average, of which one hour 38 minutes was due to communication technologies not being used to good effect.

Men are the biggest timewasters when it comes to non-work activities. When asked to admit what they were really doing while they were working, the key findings were (men first, women second):

  • Emailing with friends: 39 per cent compared to 36 per cent
  • Following sport online: 19 per cent compared to 4 per cent
  • Arranging social life: 29 per cent compared to 21 per cent
  • Online shopping: 21 per cent compared to 14 per cent
Out Of 1,468 people questioned, the average time spent each day waiting for or chasing responses to urgent emails and on unnecessary emails was 42 minutes. An average of 27 minutes was wasted responding to voicemails or managing phone calls and 12 minutes was lost trying to locate colleagues.

According to the study, other average times wasted each day were:

  • Travel not including to and from work: 14 minutes
  • Chasing responses to urgent emails: 42 minutes
  • Responding to voicemails or managing phone calls: 27 minutes
  • Trying to locate colleagues: 12 minutes
  • Meetings that are unnecessarily long: 12 minutes
  • Asking others for files or documents (e.g. version control): 9 minutes
  • Scheduling and rescheduling meetings: 8 minutes
  • Conference calls that could be far shorter: 6 minutes

Posted June 1, 2006
Latest articles in Latest News
 
Startups 100 list reveals the UK's most exciting new companies
The 'Startups 100' list was announced last week, identifying the country's most innovative, inspiring and ground-breaking new businesses. [September 1, 2010]
 
Small companies reap benefits of social networking
A worldwide study of 15,000 businesses shows that small companies have been much more successful at harnessing the power of social networking sites than their larger rivals. [August 5, 2010]
 
Company directors warned over taking illegal dividends
A growing number of company directors are declaring illegal dividends or loans, according to a leading accountancy firm. [August 4, 2010]
 
One in three graduates plan to work for themselves
New research suggests that the lack of traditional opportunities available to university leavers has led to a significant proportion of graduates planning to go it alone. [July 29, 2010]
 
Business angels use gut instinct when choosing investments
New research has shown that Angels Investors (high net worth individuals who invest money and knowledge into companies who require funding) mainly follow their intuition ahead of financial calculations when deciding whether to invest in a company. [July 26, 2010]
 
Small business confidence "still fragile"
A recent survey suggests that business confidence has declined over the second quarter of 2010, suggesting that the recovery remains fragile and more efforts should be made to encourage private sector growth. [July 23, 2010]
 
Limited company formations rise following two year slump
The number of new companies has started to rise again following two years of steep falls caused by the banking crisis, according to a Top 25 accountancy firm. [July 13, 2010]
 
Number of business insolvencies down over 10%
The latest PwC analysis into corporate insolvency numbers shows that the effect of the downturn on UK business is showing more signs of easing. 3,467 companies became insolvent in the second quarter of 2010. [July 7, 2010]
 
Vince Cable heads up new committee to slash red tape for small businesses
Vince Cable has chaired the first meeting of a new tough Cabinet committee, tasked with the job of slashing the amount of red tape small businesses have to deal with. [July 5, 2010]
 
Small businesses warned to expect public sector contract cuts
Companies who have contracts with the public sector are being urged by the ICAEW to prepare for possible cuts. Includes a contract review checklist for small companies who may be affected. [June 7, 2010]
 
Most entrepreneurs expect to increase number of employees in 2010
New research has revealed the important role Britain’s leading entrepreneurs will play in helping to offset the inevitable job losses which will take place in the public sector over the next few years. [May 21, 2010]
 
Coalition unveils plans to cut red tape and encourage small businesses
The new coalition government has unveiled a more comprehensive summary of its "programme for government", which contains many plans which could benefit the UK's small businesses. [May 20, 2010]
 
Cutting the UK's budget deficit the key priority for small business owners
Two major surveys show that small businesses are overwhelmingly in favour of making tackling the UK's budget deficit the key priority for the new government. [May 19, 2010]
 
Entrepreneurs 'pessimistic' about the outlook for businesses in 2010
The UK’s entrepreneurs are pessimistic about the business outlook for 2010, and scathing of the Government’s efforts to drive small business growth, according to a new study. [May 7, 2010]
 
Most small companies think UK tax system is too complex
The vast majority of the UK's small companies feel that the current tax system it too complex, and would like to see it simplified, according to a major survey of over 2,000 business owners. [May 4, 2010]
 


Click Here




Our Partners
Key Services
Key Services
Useful Guides
Archived News
Click Here

© Bytestart Limited 2005-2010 - All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Site List | Website Feeds | Rss Feed RSS Feed

Business Insurance, Business Bank Accounts, Public Liability Insurance, Professional Indemnity, Startups, Limited Company, Sole Trader