Is “Wasted Time” At Work On The Rise?

Is “wasted time” at work on the rise? Does it affect your business?

Let’s not disregard the need for people to have fun, enjoy work and be social, but there are certainly lines that need to be drawn.

There is a point where an employee’s work / play balance begins to lean too heavily towards play.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS

1. Good Corporate Policy. Employees should be expected to do their jobs. “Doing your job” doesn't have to mean that you can’t enjoy it, but the primary reason that you are at work is to do your job. Employees should be held accountable.
2. Define Expectations. Define an employee’s role and what’s expected to be completed during working hours. Employees that are focused on completing a set of tasks are less likely to be distracted – by the likes of Fantasy Football.
3. Technology. There are technologies (like content filtering) that can help minimize the time lost to non-work-related activities. I suggest that no technology is as effective as points 1 and 2, above. Technology Seed has found that the most effective solutions combine corporate policies and technology to guide employees toward proper use of business resources.

Great companies help great employees strike a healthy balance between work and play. However, watch for the tipping point – it does exist.