The 8-Hour Illusion: How Long Are We Really Working?

“8 Hours” is the average expectation for how long office workers should toil each day. But a survey of nearly 2,000 English office workers found that on average, they only do actual work for about 3 hours daily. The top 3 activities filling the rest of their time instead of working were: 1) Checking social media (47%), 2) Reading news online (45%), and 3) Chatting with colleagues about non-work topics (38%).

Managers likely wouldn’t be pleased to know this reality. But scorn towards “time theft” or “cyberloafing” warrants further open-minded investigation. If we accept the factual limitation of human brains in sustaining attention on any one task, expectations of 8 hours of continuous daily work seem highly contradictory. And the truth is frequent breaks during tasks are actually beneficial.

Examining the top cyberloafing activities from the aforementioned survey – social media and online news – much research has aimed to determine how such Internet wandering truly impacts employee productivity.

A study from the University of Nevada suggested that employee cyberloafing leads to annual losses of $85 billion for businesses. However, recognizing that people aren’t robots and breaks aren’t nonessential, counter research has emerged, exploring whether cyberloafing might actually have some advantages.

Psychologist Dr. Phyllis Andel notes that while cyberloafing was initially universally condemned as lazy time-wasting, closer examination suggests it may signal employees unconsciously trying to escape some workplace difficulty. Only a fine line separates mindless Internet surfing from browsing that provides a mental reset enabling one to return recharged. No one knows precisely where that line lies.

Still, researcher Stefanie Andel, assistant professor of psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, explains the upside of workday cyberloafing. It can brighten employee moods while reducing negative interactions. Various factors matter too, like industry and job type.

This aligns with research by Andrew Bennett, assistant professor at Old Dominion University, finding even a 1-minute break can re-energize people to maintain higher long-term productivity. While not indicating optimal break durations, a key observation was that simply shifting attention away from a tiresome task can alleviate fatigue to refresh the mind. Professor Vivien Lim, a cyberloafing expert at the National University of Singapore, suggests most need around 15-20 minutes of rest to recommence work, while over 30 minutes makes re-focusing harder.

No One Sees Your Value, Why Would You Want to Work?

Though some research correlates cyberloafing with greater work satisfaction, a lingering doubt remains – if people enjoy their jobs and work environments, why distract themselves in the first place?

Ultimately only you can know whether your frequent breaks recharge for focused work or help escape intolerable conditions. But occasional cyberloafing amidst completing tasks needn’t evoke excessive guilt since humans fundamentally require rest. Every worker merits some respite, contingent on finishing responsibilities in time.

A Wisconsin School of Business study reveals a notable link between cyberloafing and perceptions of workplace injustice, aligning with Andel’s discovery that 75% of dissatisfied employees also engage in cyberloafing. Consequently, dismissing ‘time theft’ as mere laziness overlooks its underlying causes. Rather than labeling individuals as lazy, it’s crucial to recognize that demotivation, stemming from under-appreciation or unfair treatment, often drives such behavior. In the face of workplace distress, seeking relief becomes a reasonable response. After all, expecting a robust work ethic in an environment that fails to acknowledge or value one’s efforts is, quite frankly, a comical absurdity, don’t you think?

Did You Know?

• Anticipating extended periods of nonstop, highly productive work goes against the fact that most people can only stay focused for about 20 minutes before their attention starts to decline. Various studies suggest taking short breaks after intense concentration—like checking your phone, taking a restroom break, chatting with colleagues, or grabbing a snack—before getting back to work. These breaks help refresh your focus and enhance overall productivity.

• Psychologist Dr. Phyllis Andel emphasizes the importance of taking breaks, especially when engaged in problem-solving or creative tasks. Stepping away briefly allows the mind to wander, potentially sparking new ideas or offering improved strategies upon return. Dr. K. Anders Ericsson, an expert in positive psychology, studied the habits of highly successful individuals and found that while the saying “practice makes perfect” holds true, these experts didn’t endure hours of continuous work. Instead, after 2-3 hours of focused skill development and error correction, they consistently took breaks.
  

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