Workplace collaboration platform, Dropbox has just revealed Australia has ranked second globally in the greatest number of hours and dollars lost, due to work distractions each year.
Titled the ‘Economist Impact Study: The Cost of Lost Focus’, the report, commissioned by Dropbox, highlighted Australian knowledge workers are losing 600 hours, equivalent to USD$19,156, annually, placing us just behind France (608 hours), in terms of the impact on businesses.
The report sheds light on the challenges faced by knowledge workers today, revealing that 42% of survey respondents struggle to work productively for more than an hour without interruptions. To this, the study indicates knowledge workers are increasingly turning to automation tools, including AI, for assistance. Of those surveyed who use such tools, 79% reported increased productivity, while nearly 75% noted improvements in work quality and time spent on repetitive tasks. Additionally, almost 70% mentioned improved organisation.
Work Distractions key findings in Australia:
- Primary work distractions leading to lost focus include:
- Work-related chat messages (166 hours)
- Personal activities (146 hours)
- Work-related emails (82 hours)
- Australians spend an average of 131 hours annually trying to regain focus, tying with the United Kingdom.
Head of APAC at Dropbox, Pia Broadley “People are experiencing information overload and disjointed workflows at unprecedented levels, leading to a waste of brain power on ‘work about work.’ The research highlights that distraction has become a common problem for knowledge workers and this is costing Australian businesses. We’re building products that have the potential to help solve this problem by automating routine tasks, increasing productivity, and freeing up mental space so people can get back to doing work that matters most. The updates we’re launching today are just the first step on this journey.”
Please find full Economist report here.