Survey Finds Average Worker Wastes 2.09 Hours Per Every 8-Hr. Work Day

The average worker wastes 2.09 hours per every eight-hour work day, which costs employers $759 billion a year, according to a survey by America Online and Salary.com.

Louisiana ranked No. 40, wasting 1.7 hours per day and costing employers $6.7 billion.

Of more than 10,000 people surveyed, 44.7 percent said they waste the most time surfing the Web. The No. 2 time-waster is socializing with co-workers, 23.4 percent; followed by conducting personal business, 6.8 percent; daydreaming, 3.9 percent; running errands off- premises, 3.1 percent; and making personal phone calls, 2.3 percent.

The top excuses for wasting time were not having enough work to do, 33.2 percent; being underpaid, 23.4 percent; and being distracted by co-workers, 14.7 percent.

Missouri employees were the most wasteful, throwing away 3.2 hours per day and costing their employers $28.1 billion per year. Rhode Island was the least wasteful state, wasting just 1.3 hours per day costing employers $805 million.

(Copyright 2005 Dolan Media Newswires)