6 biggest distractions for employees

If you think your employees are diligently working from 9-to-5 every day… think again.

Just 2% of employees say that they are never distracted at work, according to a recent survey by gaming site Solitaired. As for the rest of us? Workplace distractions are an intrusive part of the day, with phones, kids and pets and our co-workers ranking high on the list.

Read more: Gen Z employees share how social media helps — and hurts — their careers

While it’s important to take breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout, getting constantly distracted by work has its consequences, too. A study by the University of California found it takes 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on track after getting sidelined from a task. And with the average person working 2.5 extra hours per day during the pandemic, that time can add up.

However, stepping away from work to reset can make workers more productive, if done right. A study by time tracking platform Desktime found that the most productive workers do 52 minutes of work before taking a 17 minute break. To see what employees are spending their break — and work — time on, check out this list from Solitaried: