The same technology that enables office workers to be more efficient often also increases their frustration and reduces productivity. In fact, nearly 3 in 10 desk workers lose an hour or more of productivity to common technical issues each week, according to a new survey from Standley Systems.
“Employees should not have to build their workday around unreliable technology,” said Greg Elliott, CEO of the business services company. “This survey suggests many have simply learned to absorb those interruptions as part of the job, even when they are clearly costing time and focus. That should prompt organizations to look more closely at whether the tools people rely on every day are truly supporting productive work.”
For many workers, office technology issues are not rare disruptions but recurring parts of the workday that chip away at time and momentum. The survey shows these slowdowns are frequent enough to shape how work gets done, from the time employees lose each week, to the tools and systems that create the most drag. It also shows that some of the most familiar office tasks remain less reliable than many workplaces may assume.
Rather than appearing as occasional setbacks, these issues show up as routine interruptions in the flow of work. Nearly 85% of desk workers say they run into a tech-related issue that slows them down at least once each workday, including more than half who say it happens one or two times a day and nearly 30% who say it happens three or more times daily. For most workers, these interruptions are no longer exceptions, but are built into the rhythm of the workday.
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Among other key findings:
- Nearly half of desk workers lose more than half an hour to everyday tech issues each week, and nearly 30% lose an hour or more.
- Only 3 in 10 say they regain focus immediately after a tech interruption, while another 30% say it takes at least six minutes to fully get back on track.
- Nearly 6 in 10 say their first response to a tech issue is to try fixing it themselves, while three-quarters say they avoid contacting IT at least sometimes because it feels like more effort than it is worth.
- Only 18% say printing, copying or scanning always works correctly on the first try
- 7 in 10 say they would rather their workplace invest in preventing tech issues than expect employees to work around them.
Employers have an opportunity to reduce how often workers run into avoidable slowdowns. Organizations that do that well may recover more than lost minutes and may also recover focus, reduce rework and create a work environment where employees can spend more of the day doing their jobs instead of managing the tools meant to help them.
“Reliable technology does more than keep work moving,” Elliott said. “It gives employees the consistency they need to stay focused, responsive and productive.”
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