• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

‘Take time in quiet’: Melinda French Gates says to spend at least 10 minutes a day on self-care

2

'We will not endure' — Top Iranian leaders signal they are running out of time as economy crumbles ahead of Trump's next sanctions onslaught

3

Harry and Meghan's homecoming comes with a multimillion-dollar tax catch—waiting four years could have shielded their $60 million fortune

1

‘Take time in quiet’: Melinda French Gates says to spend at least 10 minutes a day on self-care

2

'We will not endure' — Top Iranian leaders signal they are running out of time as economy crumbles ahead of Trump's next sanctions onslaught

3

Harry and Meghan's homecoming comes with a multimillion-dollar tax catch—waiting four years could have shielded their $60 million fortune
worker productivity

Smartphones Are Making You Slack Off at Work

By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 9, 2016, 4:28 PM ET
People Using Cellphones
3 in 4 employers say two or more hours a day are lost in productivity because employees are distracted. Eddie Gerald —Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Reading this on your smartphone while at work? You’re part of a big issue at hand.

According to a new survey from CareerBuilder of 2,186 hiring managers and 3,031 full-time employees, 1 in 5 employers (19%) think that employees are productive fewer than 5 hours a day. When asked what’s to blame for the lack of productivity, 55% of employers said workers’ texting/cell phones is the biggest source of distraction.

Interestingly, the survey reported that only 10% of respondents with smartphones said it’s decreasing their productivity while at the office, but 66% said they use their smartphones several times a day while working. 82% of employees said they keep their smartphone within eye contact.

According to the survey results, there’s a high cost of low productivity. Almost half of employers (48%) said smartphone distractions compromised the quality of work. Other negative consequences included: a lower morale because other workers have to pick up the slack (38%), a negative impact on the boss/employee relationship (28%), and missed deadlines (27%).

 

The survey also showed that some companies (76% of employers) have made efforts to control productivity issues, such as blocking certain Internet sites (32%), and banning personal calls/cellphone use (26%).

“While we need to be connected to devices for work, we’re also a click away from alluring distractions from our personal lives like social media and various other apps,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder, in a news release. “The connectivity conundrum isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it needs to be managed. Have an open dialogue with employees about tech distractions. Acknowledge their existence and discuss challenges/solutions to keeping productivity up.”

About the Author
By Madeline Farber
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Careers


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Careers


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.