Accountemps Survey: Employee Output is Weakest Late in the Day

TORONTO, Aug. 18 /CNW/ - If you're constantly battling the afternoon slowdown at work, take heart: You're not alone. A new Accountemps survey of senior managers confirms the late afternoon is the most common time for workers to hit a wall. Thirty-two per cent of managers surveyed said 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. is the least productive time of day for employees. Coming in second was 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., as cited by 28 per cent of respondents.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 150 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.

Managers were asked, "In general, what is the least productive time of day for employees?" Their responses:

    
    8 a.m. to 10 a.m. .................................   9%
    10 a.m. to noon ...................................   3%
    Noon to 2 p.m. ....................................  26%
    2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ..................................  28%
    4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ..................................  32%
    Don't know ........................................   2%
                                                        ----
                                                        100%
    

"Productivity lulls in the workplace can be common, and managers should be conscious of this when scheduling important meetings or challenging tasks," said Kathryn Bolt, president of Accountemps' Canadian operations. "As personal work styles differ, professionals should perform a self-assessment to identify their peak performance periods and schedule when they take on critical projects accordingly."

Accountemps offers five tips to help professionals avoid the afternoon slump and maximize productivity:

    
    1.  Plan ahead. Don't push challenging projects off until the end of the
        day, when your energy may wane. Use your less-energetic periods to
        catch up on more routine tasks, such as responding to e-mails and
        reading industry publications.
    2.  Get out and smell the roses. If you feel your energy beginning to
        dip, stretch or take a short walk to recharge. Try eating your meals
        or holding afternoon meetings outside.
    3.  Eat well. Remember to make time for lunch and nutritious snacks
        throughout your workday. Avoid high-carb foods, which can cause you
        to crash later.
    4.  Track goals. Keep a to-do list to remain focused, and ensure it's
        visible on your desk so you can check items off as they're completed.
        There's nothing more motivating than making progress on your
        projects.
    5.  Switch gears. If you're struggling to focus, take a quick break and
        research something new. Changing tasks can help increase your
        productivity late in the day.
    

Accountemps has more than 350 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at www.accountemps.com. Follow Accountemps for workplace news at twitter.com/accountemps.

For further information: Kristie Perrotte, [phone], [email protected]