Workplace Productivity Hits Rock Bottom on Afternoons and Fridays

Most studies of worker productivity use employee self-reports, supervisory evaluations, or wearable technology, but these can be subjective and invasive. Instead, they used computer usage metrics — things like typing speed, typing errors, and mouse activity — to get objective, non-invasive data on computer work patterns.

They found that computer use increased during the week, then dropped significantly on Fridays. People typed more words and had more mouse movement, mouse clicks, and scrolls every day from Monday through Thursday, then less of this activity on Friday. In addition, computer use decreased every afternoon, especially on Friday afternoons (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Examining workweek variations in computer usage patterns: An application of ergonomic monitoring software

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This aligns with similar findings that the number of tasks workers complete increases steadily from Monday through Wednesday, then decreases on Thursday and Friday. To start, flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid work or a four-day work week, may lead to happier and more productive employees.

As of May 2023, about 60 percent of full-time, paid workers in the United States worked entirely on-site. The remainder either worked remotely or had a hybrid arrangement that involved a combination of remote and on-site work. In addition, many employees have a compressed workweek in which they work longer hours, but on fewer days.

Other studies have found that those who work from home or work fewer days have less stress from commuting, workplace politics, and other factors, and thus have more job satisfaction (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Potential Benefits of Remote Working on Urban Mobility and Related Environmental Impacts: Results from a Case Study in Italy

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These arrangements give workers more time with their families and thus reduce work-family conflicts, and give them more time for exercise and leisure activities, which have been shown to improve both physical and mental health.

Not only that, but flexible work arrangements could boost the bottom line in other ways, such as reductions in electricity use, carbon footprint, and carbon dioxide emissions. Now these study findings can further help business leaders to identify strategies that optimize work performance and workplace sustainability.

References:

1. Individual and Organizational Strategies for Promoting Work-Life Balance for Sustainable Workforce: A Systematic Literature Review from Pakistan – (https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/18/11552)
2. Examining workweek variations in computer usage patterns: An application of ergonomic monitoring software – (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287976)
3. Potential Benefits of Remote Working on Urban Mobility and Related Environmental Impacts: Results from a Case Study in Italy – (https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/1/607)

Source: Eurekalert