Study highlights the inefficiencies of hybrid workplaces
Employees are spending a third less time doing actual meaningful work than a year ago.
The hybrid and flexible work accelerated by the pandemic has its pros and cons. Of course, many people enjoy the flexibility of working from home but according to a new report more than half of our work week (23 hours out of 40) is lost to menial and repetitive tasks.
The Asana Inc. Anatomy of Work Index, which analyses how people spend time at work, shows that in 2022, 58% of work is about work coordination, searching for information, and managing shifting priorities–essentially not much actual work. A third of people’s time is spent on skilled work and only 9% is spent on strategic work–a stunning 36% decrease from last year, which, according to the report, reflects the challenges organizations have in getting distributed teams on the same page.
Related: ‘Work about work’ robs large employers of 63% of productivity
Other findings in the report show:
- Managers spend the most time everyday on work coordination (62%) followed by the C-Suite (60%)
- As an organization grows so does work about work. Employees at medium and large companies spend 59% of their day on it. That’s 5% more time than small businesses
- Too many meetings (24%) and uncertainty over what to prioritize (22%) are leading to missed deadlines
Overall, workers are using slightly fewer apps per day (nine) than last year (10), but they still feel overwhelmed by them. Compared to one year ago:
- 42% are spending more time on email
- 40% are spending more time on video calls
- 52% are multitasking more during virtual meetings
- 56% feel they need to respond immediately to notifications
- Although nearly half of employees (47%) find it easier to concentrate at home, 41% feel more isolated when working remotely.
“The unprecedented disruption of the pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way we live, including re-thinking work and our relationship with it,” said Anne Raimondi, Chief Operating Officer, Asana. “As we transition into the new era of agile work, it’s crucial for organizations to connect their teams around clarity of purpose and a shared sense of accomplishment to ensure employees feel seen, heard and valued.
The survey also points to some solutions that workers themselves have expressed as ways to reduce burnout and increase productivity. One in five workers say mental health resources and clarity on organizational goals would alleviate the impact of burnout and imposter syndrome. Additionally, employees say they could save 5.4 hours per week – equivalent to six working weeks (257 hours) a year – if processes were improved. As employers look at how the pandemic has changed habits and expectations, they have the ability to reflect on the challenges and embrace a new agile workplace that can accommodate some of these issues.
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