# Office Workers Waste More Time on Slow Tech Than They Spend on Holiday
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2020-03-09
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: Is Outdated Technology Hurting Workplace Productivity?
Meta Description: Discover how outdated technology can cost businesses time and money, hindering employee productivity and morale. Is your office tech holding you back?
URL: https://financedigest.com/office-workers-waste-more-time-on-slow-tech-than-they-spend-on-holidayhtml

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Working with technology could be detrimental to productivity in the workplace, costing businesses more then they are worth.

**Image**

In any office environment where a lack of efficiency can be called into question, it is often extended lunch breaks, mindless chatter at the coffee machine or meetings that overrun that get the blame. But, in today’s tech-filled landscape, offices are also heavily dependent on up to date [technology for speeding](https://www.financedigest.com/moving-at-the-speed-of-light-how-new-technology-is-acting-as-a-catalyst-for-rapid-drug-discovery.html "Moving at the speed of light: How new technology is acting as a catalyst for rapid drug discovery") up and completing simple tasks. Could this reliance on outdated [technology become](https://www.financedigest.com/how-banks-can-use-digital-technology-to-become-more-sustainable.html "How banks can use digital technology to become more sustainable") a massive hindrance to productivity in the workplace?

[New research](https://techtalk.currys.co.uk/computing/workplace-productivity/) has revealed that the average office worker wastes at least 24 days of work time each year waiting on slow or outdated hardware or software–that’s longer than the paid annual leave allowance of many UK workers. Read on to discover the true impact outdated [technology can have on businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/being-nimble-and-responsive-in-banking-and-business-has-arrived-thanks-to-accounting-automation-technologies.html "Being Nimble and Responsive in Banking and Business Has Arrived, Thanks to Accounting Automation Technologies").

**It’s a common problem**

It [turns out that computer troubles could be the thing](https://www.financedigest.com/techie-turn-offs-top-7-things-that-put-talent-off-applying-for-tech-roles.html "Techie turn-offs: Top 7 things that put talent off applying for tech roles") that unites the nation, as 9 in 10 Brits admit they experience tech-related issues in the workplace. With the majority of workers feeling [held back](https://www.financedigest.com/burberry-held-back-by-china-lockdowns-and-u-s-weakness.html "Burberry held back by China lockdowns and U.S. weakness") by their technology, it shouldn’t be a surprise that waiting for programs to load, screens to un-freeze and computers to boot up can hinder productivity.

In fact, 1 in 5 people stated that technology that can’t keep pace causes them to regularly [lose focus](https://www.financedigest.com/why-manufacturers-mustnt-lose-their-green-focus-in-troubled-times.html "WHY MANUFACTURERS MUSTN’T LOSE THEIR GREEN FOCUS IN TROUBLED TIMES"). This can have a seriously [negative effect](https://www.financedigest.com/negative-effects-of-technology.html "Negative effects of technology") on employee morale if left unchecked. Technology evangelist and self-styled anti-futurist, Theo Priestley agrees, “People like to feel empowered in their roles with the right tools to help them achieve their goals and add value to the organisation.”

“They feel a sense of pride in completing [work and see where this fits](https://www.financedigest.com/redefining-what-it-means-to-have-it-all-how-to-make-work-fit-into-your-life.html "Redefining What It Means to Have It All: How to Make Work Fit into Your Life") into the overall business itself,” he explains.

**When time is money**

In a world where time is money, outdated technology and software systems can [cost a business](https://www.financedigest.com/simple-ways-to-reduce-business-costs.html "Simple Ways to Reduce Business Costs") £1,193 per employee, as tech-related delays can eat into up to 10.4 days of work time. And, that’s just [opening software](https://www.financedigest.com/why-should-investors-be-paying-more-attention-to-open-source-software.html "Why should investors be paying more attention to open source software?").While it may seem expensive to invest money in regularly upgrading and updating technology, businesses could be hemorrhaging more than that simply by paying employees to wait for the [tech to keep](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-neobanks-keep-up-the-answer-lies-in-their-edge-in-tech.html "How Can Neobanks Keep Up? The Answer Lies in Their Edge in Tech") up. The average employee [loses 46 minutes per day](https://www.financedigest.com/royal-mail-says-uk-business-losing-one-million-pounds-a-day-amid-union-clash.html "Royal Mail says UK business losing one million pounds a day amid union clash"), to technological delays. That is nearly an hour of [work that businesses are paying for with no return](https://www.financedigest.com/are-businesses-using-cybersecurity-as-a-scapegoat-for-a-desperate-return-to-office-working.html "Are Businesses Using Cybersecurity As A Scapegoat For A Desperate Return To Office Working?").

In fact, the simple act of employees booting up their computer can rack up a [cost of just over £1k and around 8.8 days of actual work time](https://www.financedigest.com/netflixs-gaming-foray-will-cost-time-and-money-wall-st.html "Netflix’s gaming foray will cost time and money – Wall St") for the average British worker.The total (and shocking) figure is just shy of £3k per year, per person, for starting the computer, opening software, navigating [meeting technology](https://www.financedigest.com/meeting-of-minds-using-technology-to-reimagine-mental-health-support.html "Meeting of minds: Using technology to reimagine mental health support") and opening emails. All it takes is a quick headcount to see the figures radically start to add up.

Issues with technology go further than just time-wasting, as resentment can fester when delays reoccur. According to the study, 1 in 5 people stated that their company’s IT [department are so inundated with work](https://www.financedigest.com/it-departments-getting-a-bad-rap-over-remote-working.html "IT DEPARTMENTS GETTING A BAD RAP OVER REMOTE WORKING"), they usually cannot help with most technical issues. This can not only leave [companies with an overworked IT department but also a team that can’t work if faced](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-what-european-companies-are-doing-as-workers-face-high-inflation.html "Factbox-What European companies are doing as workers face high inflation") with issues.In attempts to be proactive, nearly a quarter of workers confirmed they usually try to [fix their IT issues](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-france-agreed-to-fix-u-s-subsidies-issues-says-macron.html "U.S., France agreed to “fix” U.S. subsidies issues, says Macron") themselves, which means it is valuable time taken away from projects and deadlines. So, the negative [impact of slow computer hardware and software can be felt across the office](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-names-hubspot-veteran-kim-walsh-as-chief-growth-officer.html "impact.com Names HubSpot Veteran Kim Walsh as Chief Growth Officer").

**Increases frustration**

When the main purpose of tech is to enhance the level of output produced by employees – not hinder it, what happens when the machines are [working](https://www.financedigest.com/the-evolving-world-of-work-what-next-for-employers.html "The Evolving World Of Work – What Next For Employers?") against employees? Well, simply put; they leave. When faced with regular computer and software problems, 1 in 10 people revealed they would go as far as to [say that it makes them want to quit their job](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-will-not-cut-jobs-in-italy-unions-say-after-meeting.html "Amazon will not cut jobs in Italy, unions say after meeting").

It’s clear to see why– when even the simplest of tasks take longer than necessary, but deadlines don’t change to accommodate this, it can cause unnecessary stress. When questioned further, over a quarter of [British workers](https://www.financedigest.com/thousands-of-british-postal-workers-walk-out-over-pay.html "Thousands of British postal workers walk out over pay") revealed they feel pressure to put in overtime to make up the time lost due to outdated tech-related delays. When employees are sacrificing their personal time to complete work,it can allow resentment to fester, which may force them to seek a position at a [company that can offer](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-european-companies-offer-one-off-bonuses-hike-pay-amid-cost-of-living-crisis.html "Factbox-European companies offer one-off bonuses, hike pay amid cost-of-living crisis") them a better work/life balance.

Poor staff retention alone can be a steep [cost for any business](https://www.financedigest.com/esg-prepared-why-ignoring-esg-is-a-costly-business.html "ESG Prepared: Why Ignoring ESG is a Costly Business"). It can potentially add up to much more than regularly updating technology, when you’re constantly having to spend [money on the lengthy recruitment process](https://www.financedigest.com/the-problem-with-current-anti-money-laundering-processes-a-lack-of-context.html "The problem with current Anti-Money Laundering processes: A lack of context"). Priestley echoes this;”employee retention could be dented, because employees simply want to [work for an organisation that has invested in technology](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-5g-technology-and-how-it-works.html "What is 5G technology and how it works") to support them, not hinder them. I believe this is as much a part of the hiring process that candidates should enquire about as finding out about the culture.”

It is clear to see that when [technological advances](https://www.financedigest.com/cardiac-valvulotome-market-growth-latest-trends-top-players-competition-technological-advancements-outlook-and-forecast-2028.html "Cardiac Valvulotome Market Growth, Latest Trends, Top Players, Competition, Technological Advancements, Outlook and Forecast 2028") are made, businesses must keep up with them. This investment can [save time and money](https://www.financedigest.com/modernisation-of-insurance-technology-saves-invaluable-time-and-money.html "Modernisation of insurance technology saves invaluable time and money") in the business sector, which can result in a happier, more content workforce.


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