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Wasted Time At Work Costing Companies Billions
Salary.com ^ | July 2005 | Salary.com, America Online

Posted on 07/31/2005 7:54:18 AM PDT by summer

For many American workers today, time's a wastin' ...According to a new survey by America Online and Salary.com, the average worker admits to frittering away 2.09 hours per 8-hour workday, not including lunch and scheduled break-time. As a matter of practice, companies assume a certain amount of wasted time when determining employee pay. However, the America Online / Salary.com survey indicates that employees are wasting about twice as much time as their employers expect. Salary.com calculated that employers spend $759 billion per year on salaries for which real work was expected, but not actually performed.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

The biggest distraction for respondents? Personal Internet use. 44.7% of the more than 10,000 people polled cited web surfing as their #1 distraction at work. Socializing with co-workers came in second at 23.4%. Conducting personal business, "spacing out," running errands, and making personal phone calls were the other popular time-wasting activities in the workplace...

WHO WASTES THE MOST TIME?

Who tends to waste the most time at work?

* Men vs. Women: Men and women waste about the same amount of time per day. This, despite the fact that most HR managers surveyed suspected that women wasted more time at work than men.

* Youngsters vs. Seniors: As the following statistics show, the older people are, the less time they waste at work:...


Which industries account for the most wasted time? [Insurance is #1]...

HOW DOES YOUR STATE RANK?
Where does the most work-time get wasted? Regionally, the most time appears to be wasted in the Midwest, while the least appears to be wasted in the South. The biggest time wasters reside in Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky. Workers in South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Hawaii slack off the least....

(Excerpt) Read more at salary.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: Missouri; US: Rhode Island; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: slacking; workplace
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I saw an article about this survey in USA Today and thought it was interesting. However, if "education" is actually the #4 slacking profession, I will guess they mean education administrators and higher ed instructors, as K-12 teachers are actually quite busy during their workday.
1 posted on 07/31/2005 7:54:18 AM PDT by summer
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To: All
Lots of charts in the article. Also, this graphic:


2 posted on 07/31/2005 7:55:09 AM PDT by summer
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To: summer
Workers in South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Hawaii slack off the least....

South Carolina I can believe, RI I can see it, but people in HAWAII slack off the least? My Arse....
3 posted on 07/31/2005 7:56:31 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (Hillary only WISHES she was the Beast....)
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To: summer

ping - as I watch over my shoulder for the Boss...


4 posted on 07/31/2005 7:56:42 AM PDT by Fitzcarraldo
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To: All
And, this from the article:

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

America Online and Salary.com conducted in-depth research relating to time wasted at work among 10,044 respondents during May and June, 2005. Populations surveyed included AOL users, Salary.com Salary Wizard users and corporate human resource professionals. Respondents were asked to indicate how much time they wasted in an average workday, assuming a workweek consisting of five 8-hour days. Demographic information, including respondent geography, job category and gender was also collected in the study. Data was analyzed by Salary.com's team of Certified Compensation Professionals
5 posted on 07/31/2005 7:56:45 AM PDT by summer
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To: Fitzcarraldo

LOL..,


6 posted on 07/31/2005 7:57:03 AM PDT by summer
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To: MikeinIraq

Yeah, that was my reaction, too.


7 posted on 07/31/2005 7:57:36 AM PDT by summer
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: summer

In nyc I worked at two major law firms, and I saw both begin to go down the crapper as soon as all-year business casual was introduced.

That being said, I always liked business casual, but no doubt in my mind it leads to a less serious work environment, based on my experience.


9 posted on 07/31/2005 8:00:02 AM PDT by HitmanLV
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To: summer
"I'd say in an average week I only do about 15 minutes of real work"


10 posted on 07/31/2005 8:00:11 AM PDT by montag813
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To: summer

In nyc I worked at two major law firms, and I saw both begin to go down the crapper as soon as all-year business casual was introduced.

That being said, I always liked business casual, but no doubt in my mind it leads to a less serious work environment, based on my experience.


11 posted on 07/31/2005 8:01:27 AM PDT by HitmanLV
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To: summer
* Men vs. Women: Men and women waste about the same amount of time per day

That is total B.S. Women spend twice as much time on the internet, mainly on eBay and Match.com.

12 posted on 07/31/2005 8:01:28 AM PDT by montag813
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: montag813

But women don't talk about fantasy baseball, fantasy football, golf, basketball, or which chicks in the office you would do if you could.


14 posted on 07/31/2005 8:05:29 AM PDT by Huck (Whatever.)
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To: summer

The great thing is that since everyone is a slacker, no one can gain a competitive edge.


15 posted on 07/31/2005 8:05:58 AM PDT by Huck (Whatever.)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: Baynative

"WHAT, no specific category for 'government' or 'union'?"


Of course not. Wasting time is mandated by the gov't and unions.


17 posted on 07/31/2005 8:10:46 AM PDT by Blzbba (For a man who does not know to which port he is sailing, no wind is favorable - Seneca)
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To: summer
Respondents were asked to indicate how much time they wasted in an average workday,....and they all told the truth!!!......right!! LOL
18 posted on 07/31/2005 8:11:14 AM PDT by SweetCaroline (Thank You GOD for watching over me.)
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To: summer

I think they need to look more at productivity. I remember an administrator upset because my staff "not working" They were , but were laughing and talking while they worked and he felt they were too "happy" Talking can be networking. If you work 9-5 M-F sometimes people have to make errands. If it's not excessive and the work getting done, it's not a concern with me. The ones that always "look" like they are busy though...Those are the hard ones:') JMO


19 posted on 07/31/2005 8:11:25 AM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: summer

I wonder how much time "punk assed" "Executives" waste!


20 posted on 07/31/2005 8:17:25 AM PDT by zzen01 (so there!)
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