One-Quarter of Employees Say They're More Efficient Before Major Holidays
TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Santa's not the only one making a list and checking it twice: Many employees shift into high gear as the holidays approach, a new survey from Accountemps suggests. Twenty-five per cent of workers polled said they become more productive on the job a week before a major holiday. Only eight per cent of professionals reported that their output wanes.
The survey also showed that late afternoon is when many workers experience a slump, with 22 per cent citing 4 to 6 p.m. as their least productive time of day. Consistent with previous research, most employees seem to hit their stride between 10 a.m. and noon.
Workers were asked, "Are you more or less productive the week before a major holiday?" Their responses:
| Much more productive |
9% |
| Somewhat more productive |
16% |
| No difference |
67% |
| Somewhat less productive |
7% |
| Much less productive |
1% |
| 100% |
Respondents were also asked, "In general, what is your least productive time of day?" Their responses:
| 8 to 10 a.m. |
19% |
| 10 a.m. to noon |
11% |
| Noon to 2 p.m. |
18% |
| 2 to 4 p.m. |
18% |
| 4 to 6 p.m. |
22% |
| Don't know/other |
13% |
| 101%* |
*Responses do not total 100 per cent due to rounding.
"The pressures of preparing for the holidays may affect productivity levels at work, especially when combined with increased out-of-office messages and mounting workloads," said Dianne Hunnam-Jones, Canadian president of Accountemps.
"With more workers taking time off around the holidays, it can be challenging for companies looking to tie up year-end budgets and develop plans for the coming quarter," added Hunnam-Jones. "To ensure activity levels keep up with business demands, managers should encourage their teams to submit requests for time off as soon as possible, or consider bringing on temporary professionals to fill staffing gaps where needed."
About the Research
The survey was developed by Accountemps and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 270 Canadian workers 18 years or older and employed in office environments.
About Accountemps
Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The staffing firm has more than 340 offices worldwide. More resources, including online job search services, can be found at accountemps.ca. Follow the Accountemps blog and @RobertHalf_CAN on Twitter for additional workplace news and hiring trends.
SOURCE Robert Half Canada
Naz Araghian, 416.865.2140, [email protected]
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