Liverpool office workers more distracted than national average
Almost a quarter (22.4%) of office workers in Liverpool say they are distracted between 20-50 times a day at work, versus a national average of 15%, according to new research from Doncaster based office products experts Fellowes.
UK office workers are unproductive an average of 21million working days a month, which could cost UK businesses around £3billion a year, according to the Fellowes Productivity in the UK report.
Almost 45% (43.9) of people in Liverpool say badly designed desks and uncomfortable chairs are a real frustration in the office.
It seems noise is at the centre of many Liverpudlian office workers’ frustrations, as it was listed by as the number one frustration at work by almost half (46.3%) of Liverpool office workers.
The report is part of Fellowes’ Working Well initiative, which includes the launch of its sit-stand desks solutions.
The top five distractions in Liverpool offices:
- Chatting with colleagues (78%)
- Tea rounds! (73.20%)
- Eating (48.8%)
- Browsing the internet (43.90%)
- Texting (29.3%)
Productivity expert at Think Productive and author of How to be Really Productive Grace Marshall comments:
“Being distracted diminishes our ability to think clearly and creatively. Many office workers find they get far more work done in the day they work from home, or the hour before everyone else gets into the office – because they have less interruptions and distractions. Flexibility allows us to manage our day, balance the needs of our colleagues and deliver the work we need to get done.”
It seems Grace’s comments are mirrored by a large number of office workers up and down the country, with 40% claiming they would get more done if they worked from home. A huge two-thirds of those asked said they would be more productive during a four-day week.
Grace adds: “We’ve found that a four-day work week increases momentum and motivation in the office, as well as giving employees more time to enjoy life outside of the workplace. Time away from our workplace is vital for our productivity.”
“It is our ability to think well that increases the quality and value of our work, not how many hours we show up at the office. In fact, working longer hours can diminish our productivity as well as our wellbeing.”
Fellowes UK Sales and Marketing Director Darryl Brunt continues: “It’s clear that our workplace has a huge effect on productivity and our report shows a real need for businesses to take heed. Making small changes to employees’ workstation comfort can reap rewards for their wellbeing and their working life. Employees who feel more productive working from home shouldn’t be forgotten either, everyone should be given access to the right products to ensure they can work well.”
The report also identifies the need for appropriate office equipment, with a quarter of workers claiming to have missed a deadline because they couldn’t get their hands on the right tools in time. Almost 1 in 5 office workers claim they don’t have access to the equipment they need at least two to three times per week.
Additionally, a quarter of respondents also felt that their office set up had a negative impact on their productivity, with 1 in 5 workers admitting they ache at the end of the day because of their desks.
Find out more at www.fellowes.com
