Time for the afternoon slump: Study shows exactly when office workers are least productive
- Research has shown that office workers suffered a burglary just over an hour after midday
- On average, tired burglaries occur three times over the course of a working day
- Too much time on the computer and not enough breaks are the main causes
Those of us who reach for a cup of coffee in the morning to get us through the workday might want to leave it until 1:27pm.
Because that’s the time when office workers suffer a slump, a study has found. Researchers claim to have pinpointed the exact times when employees are most—and least—productive.
From a peak at 10.22am they reached their first dip at 1.27pm followed by another at 2.06pm. The Office Freedom agency’s study found that employees felt tired an average of three times a day at work, with too much computer time and not enough breaks being the main reasons.
On average, office workers experience tired slumps three times in the course of a working day
A spokesman for Office Freedom said: “It can be so difficult to concentrate during the workday.
“There are a ton of different distractions that can distract us from our work and what we are supposed to be focusing on.
“Having a work environment that helps you be most productive is important as it ensures you make the most of your time.”
The study, conducted by OnePoll, found that more than half (54 percent) felt they thrive around colleagues in the office compared to working from home.
And 38 percent said being in an office environment increased their productivity, compared to 22 percent who felt it affected their ability to work.
For almost two-thirds of employees (65 percent), the presence of colleagues is the best thing about everyday office life.
Of those who said being in an office helped their effectiveness, nearly half (48 percent) said it was because of a better work environment and being close to others (48 percent).
However, noise levels (36 percent), room temperature (32 percent) and questioning colleagues (32 percent) were the main impacts on workplace productivity for those affected.