Is Social Media Actually Killing Productivity in the Office?

What issues are really affecting daily productivity?

How do your employees spend most of their time on the job? If you’re not sure, and productivity seems to be failing, or the numbers just aren’t matching up, it’s time to make a change. Change can be hard though, when the problem isn’t clear.

So, what is the problem?

According to a recent survey conducted by BambooHR and highlighted by Fast Company, the most common distraction may not be as common as we think. With the age of social media fully upon us, it can be easy to attribute all office problems to scrolling Facebook or Twitter, but this just isn’t the case.
The most common ways workers now waste time, ordered by the worst offenders at the top, include:

• Taking breaks to visit the office kitchen, water cooler or break room during times other than lunch or other breaks
• Bathroom trips
• Participating in small talk or gossip with coworkers
• Corresponding phone, emails and texts with family members
• Surfing the web or other online mediums
• Corresponding with non-work related friends
• Using social media for non-work related reasons
• Watching TV, including mobile and the computer

What does this say about efficiency and productivity?

BambooHR’s research maintains that while workplace distractions may hinder productivity for some, “Overall, companies should ensure a healthy level [of breaks] are taking place to maintain employee satisfaction and retention.”
Many employees believe the breaks they take enhance their productivity. Sixty-eight percent feel that using social media for personal non-related work reasons is appropriate for a small reprieve from the work completed each day.
Although work days are shortening for some, for many others, they continue to expand past the expected 40 hours. Employees answer emails and work from home after hours, which is time often not accounted for. As the work days become longer, workers continue to feel that their productivity can be improved with short breaks throughout the day.
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