Workplace Attention Zappers

The average employee spends around 40 hours a week at work, but do you know how much time is spent on non-work related distractions?

Research on “interruption science” found that when employees are involved in a task and interrupted (an e-mail, instant message, etc.) only 40% of the time will they go back to doing that task right away.

And this common situation can lead to information overload, or an excess of information that results in an inability to concentrate on tasks and stay focused.

Research by Basex Inc. found that information overload costs the U.S. economy $900 billion per year.

However, surfing the web for non-work related topics may not be bad in moderation.

A study by the University of Melbourne found that employees who use the Internet for fun—for less than 20% of the total time in office—are 9% more productive than those who do not.

Aside from the Internet, here are a few main distractions that may be occurring in your office, and how to help employees cope:

Bullying. Workplace bullying is defined as the repeated, unreasonable actions of individuals or a group, directed towards an employee to intimidate, humiliate, and create a risk to the health and safety of the employee.

The Workplace Bullying Institute estimates that a bully could cost a Fortune 500 company $24,000,000 in lost productivity and turnover, and another $1.4 million for litigation and settlement costs.

Solution: Create a zero tolerance anti-bullying policy stating a clear message of a commitment to a healthy and safe working environment. Provide employees with an independent contact, encourage an open door policy, and provide materials about what bullying is and how to report it.

Romance. Are your employees dating each other? A recent survey found that 44% of respondents had observed romantic relationships or acts of romantic affection at work, and more than a third said it made them uncomfortable or affected their work performance.

More serious consequences like sexual harassment charges are also a potential problem when it comes to dating in a work environment.

Solution: Tack up posters, have an annual meeting, and send e-mail reminders clearly defining your work/relationship company rules. Your policy should also state the consequences if a relationship does progress.

Unhealthy Habits. It’s 2:30 p.m: Are your employees racing to the vending machine for a sugar fix? Poor health decisions like a sedentary lifestyle with a diet high in fat and calories can lead to life threatening illnesses including obesity. And research shows that the cost of lost productivity among obese employees was more than $3.9 billion last year.

Solution: Motivate employees to eat better and move more with posters, tabletop reminders in your lunch area, and start a simple walking program in your office.