Email wastes time, survey claims

Workers are using company IT systems for non-work activities

Email and telephone habits among UK office workers are adding two hours to the average working day, research claims.

The survey by ntl:Telewest Business says work-related delays included waiting for replies to emails and or voicemails compounded the time wasted on non-work activities.

Quocirca analyst Clive Longbottom says people should not be measured by the hours they spend working, but by what they deliver.

'If you look at it that way, private use doesn't really matter, as long as it is legal, decent and within the bounds of company policy,' he said.

'As long as people are not doing things like surfing porn or sending abusive emails to clients, it is best not to try to control people in that kind of way.'

What do you think? Email us at: [email protected]