Are Workplace Distractions Costing You Time and Money?

Distractions in the workplace are common and I think most of us would agree they are annoying.  But did you know workplace distractions can also be costly.  According to new research, businesses lose $650 billion annually in productivity because of workplace distractions.  For small businesses with limited resources, time is money, so it is critically important to minimize lost productivity.  

In the survey sponsored by Workplace Options, a company that specializes in helping employees balance their personal and professional lives, the top five workplace distractions were:

  Personnel.  (office romances, gossip, etc.)

  Technology (e-mails, voice mails, social media, slow Internet performance)

  Meetings/Luncheons

  Surroundings (noisy co-workers, lack of privacy)

  Celebrations (birthdays, showers, service anniversaries and activities)

Whether you work in an organization with a number of employees, or if you work alone in a home-based business, workplace distractions can affect your productivity and interfere with your ability to succeed.

So if you are struggling in the current economy, think about the way you work. Statistics show an average worker starts a project and spends about 11 seconds on it before being distracted.  Then it takes another 25 minutes before he or she gets back on track.  How are you managing distractions?  How much money is being wasted every business day in your business because of workplace distractions?

Don't let money be wasted away.  Take a serious look at your work environment and take steps to limit unnecessary distractions which eat away your time, affect your productivity and impacts your bottom line.