📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Your Employees Are Wasting Time at Work, But Their Managers Slack Off Even More Is your staff working hard or hardly working?

By Rose Leadem

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Stewart Cohen | Getty Images

Think you slack off at work? Your boss is probably wasting even more time.

There's a chance your boss is goofing off for more than a third of his or her workday, according to a study conducted by Paychex, an online HR and payroll service, of 2,000 full-time employees in a variety of industries across the U.S. Approximately one in every 10 middle and upper manager wastes at least three or more hours a day, Paychex says. Meanwhile, 43 percent of support staff are strict on staying focused, wasting less than an hour per workday.

The study also revealed that as education level increases, an individual's level of focus decreases. Nearly 61 percent of high-school educated workers waste less than an hour a day, while workers with a professional level of education stand at a mere 52 percent.

It comes as no shock that the majority of wasted time is spent surfing the web, especially in industries that constantly require internet usage, such as broadcasting and journalism, technology, science and publishing.

So how can companies combat all this wasted time? Website blockers are typically the first step -- but shockingly, nearly 32 percent of respondents admitted that they are ineffective. Instead, Paychex recommends flexible scheduling, time off and an increased managerial presence to get your workers back on track.

Want to learn more? For more insights on who's fooling around at work, check out the infographic below or access Paychex's full study at this link.







Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

9 Productivity Tips That the 1% Know to Follow

Is your inner high-performer waiting to be unleashed? If so, here's what the 1% swear by for peak productivity.

Science & Technology

She Ditched Her Steady Job in Tech to Pursue Her Love of Food. Now She's a Food Network Champion and Celebrated Cookbook Author.

A self-taught vegan chef known for her sustainable cooking practices, Chef Priyanka Naik's journey from the tech world to the Food Network is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Hear her insights into how embracing your unique path can lead to entrepreneurial success.

Devices

Save More Than 70 Percent on This iPad Pro

This refurbished iPad Pro comes with 32GB of storage space.

Leadership

More Companies Are Holding on to Their Employees — and Vice Versa. Here's How to Capitalize on This Labor Market.

Your retention and recruitment strategies need to adapt as workers and businesses look for longer-term relationships. Try these strategies to do it.

Starting a Business

Ask Marc | Get Free Business Advice From the Co-Founder of Netflix

Get the answers to your most challenging business problems during our next Ask Marc, live Q&A, on 5/9/24 at 2 PM ET. You don't want to miss it—send in your questions now.

Business Solutions

Redefining the Future with Artificial Intelligence Buyouts

Here's a look at RAD AI's strategic approach to AI acquisitions in the marketing landscape.