- Brits admit that best behaviours slip six weeks into starting a new job
- Women bake cakes while men buy pints in a bid to impress new colleagues
- Average UK worker wastes 33 minutes every day on ‘me-related tasks’ costing employers an average of £2149 per worker
- Surfing the web named number one ‘desktop distraction’ while nearly two thirds of men say it’s Snapchat
According to new research from reed.co.uk, Brits are on their best behaviour for an average of six weeks into a new role in a bid to impress their new employer. However, once settled in, UK workers admit they’re tempted to tackle ‘me-related’ tasks on the job, costing employers an average of £2149 per person per annum.
In an attempt to make a good first impression, new jobbers go all out. The research reveals almost two thirds of women (61 per cent) channel their inner Mary Berry and treat team members to homemade cakes, whereas men (67 per cent) prefer to buy workmates lunch or an after-hours pint. Almost a quarter of workers (22 per cent) arrive at work early to try and impress their boss, whilst one in six (16 per cent) check their phone only during breaks to avoid distractions.
The research shows that these good intentions begin to slip six weeks into a new job, with the average worker admitting to spending 33 minutes indulging in ‘me-time’ at work. It seems the temptation to check personal emails is too strong for nearly a third of workers (30 per cent) with respondents naming it their top ‘desktop distraction’. This is closely followed by checking social media and replying to text and Whatsapp messages (25 per cent). Once in the swing of things, one in five (19 per cent) admit they will even take an extra-long lunch for the chance to catch up with friends.
Popular messaging app Snapchat is named as the biggest distraction for almost two thirds of men (63 per cent) who risk viewing recent updates, stories and selfies in the workplace, whereas women (37 per cent) are more cautious about being caught in the act.
The desire to keep up appearances and make a good impression does differ depending on the industry. Engineering employers can rest assured that employees will not surrender to ‘desktop distractions’, as over half (58 per cent) claim they keep up the good impressions for at least a year. Accountancy staff settle in much quicker, with over a fifth of those (23 per cent) in the industry admitting to succumbing to ‘me-related tasks’ after just 22 to 30 days.
Lynn Cahillane, Communications Manager of reed.co.uk, comments:
“Putting the hours in and going the extra mile for your boss are great ways to make the right impression in a new job. But to excel, you need to be able to sustain your dedication and enthusiasm and not drop the ball after only six weeks.
“We all have life tasks we need to complete around our jobs and most managers understand this. What’s more, British workers typically put in over 70 hours of overtime a year, helping us to make up for the time we’re not focused on the job. But being organised and avoiding distractions – especially the social ones – not only increases productivity and prospects, it also results in more job satisfaction.”
Top 5 most common “desktop distractions” in the workplace:
1. Browsing the internet
2. Checking phone
3. Reading out-of-work material
4. Checking social media
5. Replying to messages and WhatsApps
*Survey of 2,592 jobseekers from reed.co.uk database
