The workday is a finite amount of time and employers want their staff to use every minute of it effectively. Even the most dedicated employees may struggle with maximizing their productivity. Most people can’t accurately track the passage of time when they’re focusing on a task. It’s all too common for checking emails to go from a fifteen minute task to a 90 minute task without the employee realizing it. The following are several methods to improve productivity in the workplace:

1. Time tracking. Several apps allow employees to track their time spent on various tasks. Getting a gauge on how long individual jobs take can allow employees to plan their days better and see where their time is going.
2. Take breaks. While stopping work to take a break may seem illogical, studies have shown otherwise. Employees who brute force their way through tasks steadily decline in their performance while those who take breaks can maintain their work quality.
3. Turn off notifications. Many workplace computers have built in notifications to let employees know when they have a new voicemail, email, or inter-office message. The allure of these pop-up messages is almost impossible to resist and can derail productivity. Instead, employees should build in time to listen, read, and respond to these messages.
4. Stop multitasking. Many job candidates like to list multitasking as a skill, but studies have found it can be a productivity killer. Trying to do multiple tasks at once may seem like a great way to complete more work on a faster timeline. However, the opposite tends to be true—they take more time and tend to be lower quality.
5. Adhere to the two-minute rule. It’s easy to overlook tasks that won’t take up that much time in favor of more pressing, time-consuming tasks. However, those little tasks add up and can become overwhelming when an employee looks at their to-do list. Knocking out jobs that take two minutes or less straight away can whittle down employees’ task lists and increase their drive to keep crossing things off their agenda.
6. Spruce up workspaces. It may seem silly, but research has shown that employees work better in aesthetically pleasing environments. Hanging art or bringing in potted plants can improve the appearance of the office. Employers can encourage their staff to personalize their workspaces as well to improve their overall mood, which has a direct effect on their productivity.

Poor productivity can be indicative of larger issues at play. Absenteeism, tardiness, leaving work early, or taking long breaks can all effect productivity across the office. When an employee has consistent attendance issues that go unchecked, it can breed contempt among other staff members. They may emulate the behavior as well if there are no repercussions.

If you suspect you have a latent absenteeism problem lurking among your staff, Actec can help. Contact us to learn more about our innovative absence reporting program and how it can help reduce attendance challenges and improve productivity.