Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Sections
  • Topics
News
Sections
International
Professional Performance
Sectors
Management
Agile Working

Employees want to be innovative - but they're just too busy

Open-access content Friday 21st September 2018 — updated 7.14pm, Tuesday 26th May 2020
web_computer_iStock-851809688

21 September 2018 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal 

 

Most American knowledge workers say their companies regularly ask them to innovate, but more than half say they're too overwhelmed by day-to-day work to be more enterprising, according to a report by US software company Workfront.

 

The survey found the work they do is a source of pride to most employees - over half (57 per cent) say what they do matters to them. But the report also reveals that US workers rate their own contributions higher than those of their colleagues.

 

On average, most workers scored their own productivity at 7.84 out of 10, compared with 7.05/10 for their co-workers and 6.28/10 for the company's leadership.

 

The fifth annual State of Work survey was conducted online on behalf of Workfront by Regina Corso Consulting from 14-28 June. It canvassed 2,010 American respondents employed by companies with 500 employees or more, concentrating on those who used computers to collaborate with other people on projects.

 

Most believe that automation would boost personal productivity, as 77 per cent thought that the rise of automation would help people and teams think of work in new and innovative ways. Many said they despaired of time-wasting activities that meant they spent only 39 per cent of their working day on their key tasks. Emails and pointless meetings topped the list of things that keep knowledge workers from getting work done.

 

The survey's main takeaways were:

 

• Workers are sceptical about their colleagues' work-rates - on average they would award give them only 3.7 stars (out of five). US workers consistently rank themselves as the most productive employee in their company.

 

• 64 per cent say their workplace regularly asks employees to think of how they can do things in a totally new way - but 58 per cent say they're so swamped with getting mundane tasks done that they don't have time to think beyond the 'to-do' list.

 

• Email and pointless meetings cripple productivity. Workers typically think they spend only 40 per cent of their day on their primary tasks.

 

• 61 per cent of respondents say the work they do matters to them - baby

boomers being more likely than millennials to say so (67 per cent against 53 per cent).

 

• 86 per cent of workers believe that, ultimately, the rise of automation will help us think of work in new and innovative ways. But 48 per cent say they know people who have already lost jobs because of automation.

 

• 44 per cent of respondents say they're requesting more tools to manage work, which indicates that a sizeable section of the modern workforce wants guidance on work management.

 

• Only 34 per cent believe that within five years their company will be able to track almost all work that is being done in the company - and even fewer believe they'll be able to see how their work maps to their company's strategic initiatives (26 per cent) or its bottom line (24 per cent).

 

Alex Shootman, president and CEO of Workfront, said: "As companies race to digitise across every aspect of their business, from human resources to finance to sales, people and the work they do each day has been left behind in legacy productivity solutions and antiquated tools, trapping innovation.

 

"Today's workforce wants and needs a new platform for collaboration and digital work, one that connects people to get things done and enables leaders to see, support, and measure their entire enterprise. These results demonstrate how much the modern workforce wants and needs a new approach."

 

Also filed in
Topics
News
Content
International
Professional Performance
Sectors
Management
Agile Working

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Interim Sustainability Manager (12 month fix-term contract)

London (Central)
c.£60,000 per annum plus excellent benefits
Reference
59413

Regional Facilities Manager

Borehamwood
Circa £47,000 + Decent Package & opportunities
Reference
59410

Facilities Manager

Hertfordshire
Up to £75,000 + Decent Package
Reference
59408
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2023 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ