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In the post-pandemic economy, organizations are doing all they can to gain an edge on their competitors. Keeping employees engaged and productive is critical to success, but understanding what’s working and what isn’t takes more than qualitative surveys and sentiment analysis. It takes data.
What does an average employee’s day look like? How widespread are disengagement and burnout-related risks? Has the increased accessibility of generative AI impacted employee work habits and productivity?
ActivTrak’s annual State of the Workplace survey sought answers to these questions and more.
This year, the study focused on three key research areas — productivity, engagement and technology — to reveal the current state of work and how organizations can better anticipate and plan for the future of work. Responses from more than 135,000 employees and nearly 1,000 customers shaped this deep-dive examination of workplace behaviors spanning three years of customer data — representing one of the most direct and objective studies of productivity behaviors available.
Productivity Insights
Questions around productivity sought to answer the following: What does an average day of digital work look like? Do work behaviors vary, either during a typical workweek or throughout the year?
Here’s what ActivTrak found. First, employees were more productive by a factor of 8 minutes a day in the first half of 2023 versus the second half. Further, productivity shows continued improvements. From Q1 2021 to 24 2023, the workday got 15% shorter.
This means if a large organization maintained productivity levels throughout the year, they would effectively gain additional workload capacity of 18 employees, worth approximately $1.1 million.
How can organizations maintain high productivity levels throughout the year? First, they can use workplace analytics software to boost performance management, enhance employee productivity and maximize workforce investments. Continuously analyzing current and long-term data is also advantageous, as monitoring helps pinpoint gaps and obstacles and identifies employees who may benefit from additional coaching or training.
Engagement Insights
Questions around engagement sought to understand the following: How pervasive are disengagement and burnout-related risks? Have weekend working habits shifted over the past few years?
Here’s what ActivTrak found. Underutilization is a leading cause of disengagement. The number of disengaged employees reached 20% last year, a 67% increase since 2021. Further, 7% of employees risk burnout due to overutilization. This kind of workplace imbalance can cost a company millions of dollars and increase employee turnover, negatively impacting retention strategies.
To combat workload imbalances, organizations should gather context through team meetings and one-on-one discussions to identify issues and offer targeted support to underutilized or overburdened employees. Organizations can also encourage employee development by demonstrating how their daily work contributes to the organization’s broader strategy goals.
Tech/AI Adoption Insights
Questions around tech adoption — specifically AI adoption — sought to understand the following: How do organizations leverage AI tools? Has the increased accessibility of generative AI impacted employee work habits and productivity?
Here’s what ActivTrak found. The number of employees using AI tools — while just 22% of the workplace — jumped 50% between Q1 and Q4 2023. Factors such as industry, company size and workplace environment all influence AI tool adoption.
While it might be too soon to tell, there was no apparent impact on productivity when comparing employees using AI tools to those who don’t.
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It’s up to organizations to find the right balance around AI tool adoption. Employees should be trained on effective AI use that doesn’t solely rely on it. Effective training and support can ensure appropriate implementation.
Forward-thinking organizations should also promote a culture of experimentation and learning, encouraging employees to seek out and try new tools. At the same time, sensitive information must be protected. Organizations should exercise caution when sharing data with AI tools, safeguarding company secrets and personally identifiable information.
Conclusion
The ActivTrak Productivity Lab is committed to challenging workplace assumptions and elevating today’s workplace realities and discourse.
Notably, the Lab found workdays are shorter and productivity remains steady. Burnout is in decline, which should boost positive engagement and utilization.
However, disengagement is growing — possibly due to previously burned-out employees increasingly checking out. This presents opportunities to better use untapped workforce capacity and improve business outcomes.
Organizations that use data to assess team performance and track progress toward goals will be best positioned to ensure sustainable productivity and gain an edge on their competitors.
Read the full 2024 State of the Workplace report at here.
