Study Reveals Workplace Productivity Killers

OAKLAND, Calif., May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Ask.com, a leading online brand for questions and answers, today announced the results of its Office Workplace Productivity study, which reveals the preferences and habits of American office workers when it comes to an optimally productive workplace environment.

Among the key findings: 86 percent of respondents¹  prefer to work alone to hit maximum productivity, suggesting that, while group-oriented workplace perks like foosball and bean bag lounges have become popular tools for unlocking creativity and boosting morale, they don’t always drive efficiency. Additionally, the preference to work from home isn’t as prevalent as it may seem; a majority of respondents prefer to spend “focus time” in their personal workspace (63 percent) as compared to those who’d rather work at home (29 percent).

The study was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Ask.com among 2,060 adults ages 18 and older in March 2013.

“This research gives us broader context when thinking about the workplace culture we’re trying to foster,” said Lisa Ross, vice president of human resources at Ask.com. “It also yielded some unexpected findings. For example, while working from home policies have been hotly debated in the media, it appears most office workers actually prefer working in an office environment, as long as companies facilitate focus time and minimize distractions.”

The study indicates that distractions tend to come in the form of noisy colleagues (61 percent). In addition to cherishing alone time, it appears many office employees who have a boss need distance from their managers, with 20 percent saying they would prefer to have more work responsibilities than sit alongside their bosses. Even when colleagues are nearby, nearly one-half (46 percent) of respondents report they mostly communicate with them through IM, e-mail or phone over face-to-face interaction. Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of respondents signal meeting fatigue, claiming to spend more time in meetings discussing work than actually executing it.

Detailed findings from the report include:

Do Not Disturb
Survey findings indicate employees like easy accessibility to their broader team, but cherish uninterrupted focus time.

• More than double indicate their preference to spend “focus time” in their personal workspace (63 percent) as compared to those with a preference for working at home (29 percent)
• Six in ten (61 percent) claim noisy co-workers are the biggest distractions in offices
• Forty percent name impromptu meetings from coworkers stopping by their workspace as an-office distraction
• Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) say they spend more time in meetings talking about work than actually doing it
• Perhaps to avoid idle chatter, 46 percent say that, even though they sit close to their co-workers, they mostly communicate with them through e-mail, IM or phone

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
While the survey indicates clear focus time is critical, team interaction is as well. With the potential longevity of cube and office mates, it’s no wonder employees have strong preferences when it comes to personal workspace and seating configurations.

• Despite noisy co-workers cited as a top distraction, over one quarter (27 percent) prefer an “open room” or “newsroom” setting:
  • Younger adults are more likely to prefer to work in a newsroom setting than their older counterparts (39 percent of those ages 18-34 vs. 18 percent of workers ages 45 and older)
  • Men (42 percent) are much more likely to want to work in a cubicle with other coworkers than women (28 percent)
• More than a third of those who have a boss have little desire to work alongside their higher-ups. The findings indicate that 38 percent would rather do unpleasant activities than sit next to their boss, such as opt for more work on their plates, sit next to someone who eats loudly, and take on a longer commute
• Those who are single/never married (43 percent) are more likely to prefer to work in a cubicle with other co-workers than those who are married (30 percent)

“Face-time and group collaboration are critical to success, but it’s interesting to see the significant value placed on fostering concentration and limiting outside static,” continued Ross. “It’s important for today’s employers to adapt environments to effectively strike that balance.”