Many employees say they have too much “busy work,” referring to projects and tasks that give the illusion of productivity but actually have little value or purpose. And it’s causing a number of challenges for them and their employers, according to ResumeNow’s recent Productivity Drain Report.
In the survey of 1,130 U.S. workers, 51% said their workdays typically involve busy work—some spend several days a week on these kinds of tasks. The employees said that busy work wastes their time and leaves them frustrated, burned out, and disengaged. But they feel powerless to address the problem with their employer.
The ‘busy work’ problem
Employees say they’re devoting much of their time to busy work. This might include drafting reports no one plans to read, fact-checking a presentation your coworker already reviewed, reorganizing files that are already in good shape, or attending unnecessary meetings.
The survey revealed that 17% spend more than 16 hours a week on these types of tasks.
Nearly a third of employees said they spend at least 11 hours a week on busy work, totalling about 28% of their workweek. And 37% said a quarter to half of their tasks are busy work, while 10% reported that more than half of their day is busy work.
The survey also highlighted that many busy work projects are left unfinished. Forty-four percent said they frequently have projects abandoned without explanation. As a result, workers feel like their time is wasted, which is a drain on morale. Abandoned projects can also reveal problems with an employer’s “organizational planning and prioritization,” the report said.
Busy work takes a toll on employees. The workers surveyed said it often leads to frustration, diminished productivity, and disengagement. Many would prefer spending their time at work on meaningful work that brings value to their employer.
However, 54% said they lack a voice in addressing busy-work-related inefficiencies, and 45% said their suggestions for improvement are rarely acted upon. Less than half of the employees surveyed feel that their employers actually want to improve processes and efficiency.
The survey also highlighted that many busy work projects are left unfinished. Forty-four percent said they frequently have projects abandoned without explanation. As a result, workers feel like their time is wasted, which is a drain on morale.
How to minimize busy work
Gallup reported that employee engagement reached a 10-year low in 2024, with just 31% of employees engaged. Many said their lack of engagement was due to unclear expectations from employers and not feeling that they had opportunities for development.
Setting clear goals and expectations and supporting employee growth could help reduce the amount of busy work, and, therefore, potentially improve engagement, productivity, and morale. This will ultimately benefit your company.
Here are some tips for rethinking busy work from ResumeNow’s report:
- Enable employees to focus on high-impact, meaningful projects and tasks. This will give them a sense of purpose and that their time matters.
- Provide clarity on what you expect from their workload.
- Help employees prioritize the most meaningful work. This ensures everyone is on the same page and reaching for the same goals.
- Provide opportunities to help employees develop time management and efficiency skills and strategies.
- Offer reasons and other details when projects are abandoned or shifted to improve overall communication and morale.
- Encourage employees to communicate openly, including sharing solutions for improving productivity and efficiencies.
- Listen to and address any employee concerns about their workload and other challenges. This shows that you care about them.
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Published
Erica Sweeney
