In today’s fast-paced business world, time is money. It’s essential for small business owners to understand the average productive time of their employees to ensure optimised productivity. The average productive time of a UK employee is a crucial factor in determining the extent to which businesses can achieve productivity goals. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the specifics of how much time an average employee spends on productive tasks and what you, as a small business owner, can do to maximise it.
According to studies, the average productive time of an employee is 2 hours and 53 minutes! This means that the rest of the workday is spent on non-productive tasks such as checking emails, scrolling through social media, and chatting with colleagues. So, where does this leave businesses? It leaves them with an unsatisfactory amount of productive time which deters the growth of their company. If this is a recurring issue, there are some steps you can take to boost employee productivity.
Firstly, start by determining what tasks are critical to your business’s success. By setting clear expectations of what is expected of your employees, you will enable them to remain focused on the essential tasks that drive the business’s success. You can implement this by prioritising individual workloads or delegating specific responsibilities to your team, which can help them stay on track.
Secondly, consider the physical office environment. An office layout will significantly impact employee productivity, and research shows that it can enhance an employee’s mood and productivity. Optimising the office space is key when it comes to creating the perfect working environment. You can provide comfortable seating areas, natural light, and make sure the space is free from distractions like noise to help your team remain focused on their tasks.
Thirdly, adopt technology and automation. There are various software solutions that can streamline the workflows, tasks, and data management like CRM, collaboration tools, project management software, and more. Automating these tasks can create more time for your team to dedicate to other critical tasks.
Lastly, something as small as planning regular breaks can also help boost productivity. Studies show that allowing short breaks for employees can improve their mood, focus, and productivity. Encourage your employees to take intermittent breaks between tasks to refresh their mind and prevent fatigue.
Your team’s productivity is a critical component of your business’s success. Knowing the average productive time of a UK employee empowers small business owners to optimise their productivity and improve their work habits, leading to increased motivation and productivity. By prioritising tasks, optimising the office environment, automating tasks, and promoting frequent breaks, you can maximise the productivity of your employees and ensure the success and growth of your small business.
If you’d like to find out more about our thoughts on employee productivity, or talk about alternative solutions to increase your return on investment when it comes to choosing who can help you with your back-office tasks, get in touch!
T: 01903 688789 E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com