Employees Waste Most Time Surfing Internet: Survey

Stop surfing the 'Net and get back to work!

Using the Internet and chatting with co-workers are the activities that waste the most time each workday, according to the latest study by Salary.com. The 2007 Wasting Time Survey found that the average employee wastes 1.7 hours within an 8.5 hour work day.

Surfing the net (34.7% of respondents), along with socializing with co-workers (20.3%) and conducting personal business (17%), were among the top time wasters. Those surveyed also report making personal phone calls and taking long breaks while at work.

Nearly 18% of employees reportedly waste time because they “don’t have enough work to do,” while the second most popular response was “my hours are too long” (13.9%).

While those surveyed were quick to admit wasting time at work, they also complained about work-related activities that waste time: Fixing someone else’s work and dealing with office politics were the two most popular answers.

Salary.com’s survey also found that younger workers waste the most time. Employees between the ages of 20 to 29 reported the highest total, wasting an average of 2.1 hours each day, while the average for ages 30 to 39 dropped to 1.9 hours. Ages 40 to 49 report wasting just 1.4 hours daily.

While 63% of those surveyed admitted to wasting time at work, the amount of time wasted has actually dropped 19% since Salary.com’s first survey in 2005. So, stop reading this and get back to work!