The Biggest Productivity Killers in the Workplace


qa2Still struggling to maintain a productive workplace? There are certain elements that can have a disastrous impact on worker productivity. You may already know some of these “productivity killers,” but chances are there are others that will surprise you. Today we’re going to take a closer look at some of the biggest productivity killers in the workplace and why you should avoid them.

Email

Many people assume that email has a positive effect on productivity, allowing workers to communicate with one another without the normal restraints of distance. Whether you’re across the office from a coworker or on the opposite side of the world, you can send and receive emails in the blink of an eye. However, new reports suggests that email may be hurting productivity. According to a study conducted by McKinsey Global Institute, the average US adult spends 13 hours, or 28% of their workweek, on email.

Social Media

While email can be used for productive purposes, social media rarely has a positive impact. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., workers who check and engage on social media will likely be less productive. Of course, employers are fully aware of the productivity-killing effects of social media, which is why they either prohibit or restrict workers from accessing these sites while on the clock. And if your company doesn’t have such a policy, you may want to consider implementing one.

Noisy Coworkers

As noted in an article published by Entrepreneur, noisy coworkers can also have a negative impact on productivity. When office cubicles are placed adjacent to one another, even the slightest noise can be distracting. Unfortunately, there’s no easy solution to this problem. Workers can politely ask their coworkers to keep it down, or they can wear noise-cancelling headphones if permitted by the employer. Other than that, though, you’ll have to bear through the noise.

Smoke Breaks

Need another reason to kick the habit? Sure, taking a 5-minute smoke break every one or two hours is a great way to relax, but it can also kill your productivity. Those short 5-minute sessions will begin to add up, taking a toll on your daily productivity. So for these reasons, it’s recommended that you skip the smoke breaks.

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