How much time is acceptable to 'waste' at work?

Question

Everyone takes a break now and then while on the job. But what's the line between a break and goofing off? How many breaks are too many?

Read more
Wasting time at work? You're not alone: survey
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/070726/tecnology/net_work_time_tech_dc

Answer 1

There are several valid answers to the question.

First, should your employer have specific policies, then those will define what is indeed "acceptable" and what is not; clearly, exceeding the break times spelled out in policy goes over the line.

Second, from an ethical standpoint, "wasting" time, beyond normal breaks (meals; restrooms; ergonomics breaks to stretch, get up, etc.) is beginning to tread upon unacceptability. Yes, checking one's personal e-mail a few times a day is within what most people (employers included!) would find okay... but having a lengthy online discussion not related to one's job would clearly not be.

Third, there could be legal implications to time wasted. Supposing that your time is billed (which it often is even for salaried employees), billing a client or customer for "work" which was actually wasted time is not only unethical, but it may be illegal, and could cost your company and you fines and even jail time if caught.

Fourth, your personal ethics will further constrain the acceptability of time-wasting. Are you just as "effective" at work, accomplishing the same amount of tasks, even if you spend 15 minutes chatting with a co-worker about last night's big game or television program? Many people work just as well given a few non-work-related breaks as they would if they stayed on-task all that time; the diversion helps "reset" their minds and bring about potentially fresh viewpoints when returning to the task.

In the end, it's the bottom line that is going to matter the most. If you accomplish your job (and hopefully exceed expectations regularly), then whatever amount of "wasted" time you take is acceptable (within reason--don't take that as excuse to snooze at your desk, or spend an hour watching YouTube videos each day, just because you still get your work done!). And your boss' perception of that work and your devotion to it really counts a lot!

(Incidentally, since my job currently involves evaluating services including this one, I'm not even wasting time now!)

Answer 2

The line between taking a break and goofing off is the amount of time you spend doing either and your working environment. If you have a job where the work load is endless, than I believe you have the right to take a break or take little short breaks and talk to your co workers as long as you go back to your work in a reasonable time. It is important that we do this because this is our lives. We spend a great deal of our time at work. I think it is okay to take the breaks you are entitled to and the little ones in-between as long as you are caught up with your work. . Goofing off is when an employee is not doing or avoiding their work all the time. How many times have you gone into a store and while are waiting for service, you can hear the workers in the back chatting and laughing about unrelated work subjects? This is goofing off and unacceptable because the employees are avoiding their responsibility. It is okay for them to chat when there is no work to do and no customers in the store, but it is their main responsibility to watch out for them. Employers do not own us and I know some of them like to think they do, but they just pay us for the work that needs to be done, so if the work is getting done than why would it matter if we chose to do some other unrelated activity in-between as long as it is appropriate. I believe employees are more likely to be happy and more likely to stick around. .

Answer 3

The line between a break and goofing off I guess depends on whether you work for the company or own the company. If you own the company well by all means total goofing off is totally acceptable....I mean who wouldn't want to show their employees a prime example of what is expected. Seriously if you expect people to take you at face value and work hard for you, you'd better step up to the plate and give it your all too. I work for a mother/daughter company. The daughter is getting ready to take over the company when the mother resigns. However, she finds more time to play on the net, chat and play games then actually learning more about the company and it's financial situation. The mother has worked hard to build the company up and is pretty much burnt out so naturally she doesn't really take a great interest in the company either. So they both make up rules and regulations for the other employees to follow and expect the world from them but take everything away at the same time. Yeah this company is really going to take off when the daughter takes over...........take off into a noise dive. So while they are away yeah we screw the dog too, why not.......what do we have to gain?!?!

Answer 4

Most jobs allow you to take a certain amount of coffee breaks and lunch breaks. By law, in most cases, for an 8 hour shift you are alotted 2, 15 minute breaks and 1 hour (or 30 minutes in some cases) for lunch.

In my particular experience, I don't always take a lunch because my day isn't as structured as some, so I take breaks when I feel I need them. This could include going outside for air, getting a coffee, going for a walk, or jaunting across the street for something. I know that at the end of the day, I'm still not taking as many breaks as I am allowed, but I take what I need to be productive.

Most employers recognize that every person is different when it comes to needing breaks. They would rather see you take your mental break and function properly, than sitting at your desk not doing anything properly. It's up to us, the employee, to be respectful of our duties and get the work done!

If of course, the majority of your day is wasted doing activities outside of your work requirements, or you are often found outside smoking or chatting with your colleagues, you should reconsider how much time you are actually wasting...

Answer 5

I could go on for hours about some employees I've known throughout the years. One woman would sell tupperware all day, put her phone on voice mail, and I'd have to field all her calls.

Being in purchasing and processing over 100 purchase orders of my own daily you can just imagine. On top of that I was given another buyer's portolio when he retired too. So here I am doing 3 people's job but no I was not paid the $120,000 which I probably earned for doing all three jobs. In fact I never did get another penny...just canned for knowing too much about the corruption there...but that is another story.

If you call girls gabbing all day while thier phones rang off the hook, outside couriers waited in frustration for items they had all day to have had prepared, invoices for hundreds of thousands of dollars collecting interest to those poor contractors waiting while clerks did their nails all day...going out for a Friday afternoon beer and never coming back. Boy oh boy...as I said I could tell you stories.

I would say that is crossing the line.

That was over 15 years ago and the "place" folded and was run by a "different" organization altogether.

A good employee will always get their work done. Of course they will play...we're all human. I don't think a good boss minds an employee who is having an off day knowing they may not be up to par on certain days, when it is not detrimental to the company, or who needs a bit of a break from the mundane on their breaks...but that should not mean they are fooling around six hours out of eight either...unless you're there just to answer a phone or work when the boss is in type of thing.

When it comes to performance ratings, I think everyone knows what they are worth, and the employee that goes the extra distance with accuracy, precision, and that little extra, deserves that recognition for those efforts, and they should be rewarded and compensated at some point.

If they are not appreciated, why should they bother? Where's the motivation when it's same old, same old? This is where smart employers do things and host events, etc. for their employees to keep them motivated and happy and feeling like family.

Employees should act responsibly and professional, not act like kids and slack off the minute the boss's back is turned.

When there's work to be done, do it. When it's slow, take it easy, who cares. But don't go having a gab session with others when they have work to do.

When there's a special project going on, or if you feel you want to give more, ask to be included on a task or if you can help in any way. That's how you get ahead.

I for one would rather be busy at work than have absolutely nothing to do. I have always hated that, and we were not allowed internet connection where I used to work...no, no, no!!!

So give me a good challenging task any day if I'm stuck at a desk 9-5. I've always thrived in problem solving or organizational development tasks.

The days would just fly by when I was doing something I loved or could come up with new ways of doing something better. I never lacked for ideas that's for sure and the bosses always gave me free reign. I would rather be that employee than one sitting reading a book. That's just me however.

I should add that there are a class of employees who think they are "too good" for the job they're doing or that it's "only a stepping stone" to the job they REALLY want.

Those were the types of employees that really bothered me because they would do a horrible job, leave behind a mess, but seemed to have the art of Bull doo doo down packed just right to get through to the (usually opposite sex) boss. One guy I knew actually claimed he'd gotten by his whole like on the art of BS and that THAT was all you needed to be successful. Wonder where he is today...no doubt a CEO to some big company!!

I must say I'm glad I work from home now. I don't know if I would have all that energy again at the workplace with all the home responsibilities I have now. I'm sure I would muster it up again with time.

Answer 6

It is too much when the "break" is more important than the job.

I'll share a story.


During musical practice (we will call this a "job" for the sake), a group of friends thought they had a lot of time on their hands. Their body microphones were all set up. They decided to go to Dunkin' Donuts without telling anyone, and thought of it as a break. Little did they know, everyone back at the high school could hear everything they were saying, as the Dunkin' Donuts was not too far away. And when they came back, they were in for some deep trouble, with the lovely addition of embarassment...

Answer 7

It depends on what you consider to be wasting time. If playing solitaire when you should be writing a report is what you are talking about then I disagree with this. However, sometimes our team will gather together for a period of time for work talk that often trails into other forms of small talk. As long as this type of thing doesn't interfere with your day then I see it as a good thing because it is team building.

Some days though, you just need that extra mental break. So wandering down to the water cooler or making a few extra trips to the bathroom give you the better headspace that you need.

This morning we have a woman who has spent the whole morning making personal phone calls. This is the norm for her and nobody says anything but I still consider it to be unacceptable.

By the way, I am on my lunch hour.

Answer 8

I think an acceptable break would be 15 mins before and after lunch. The line would btw break and goofing off is when you affect other collegues. I think breaks should not be more than three each day. But it really does depend on how busy that day was and the nature of the job.

Answer 9

You guys either
a) take life to seriously, or
b) have cut and dry jobs.

I am goofing off right now, and do pretty much all day, BUT still manage to get my job done - and then some.

I am a very well organized person. I know what I have to do, when I have to, and what should be done first. The company I work for has a very simple policy;
Prove yourself, and the world is your oyster.

I come in late, leave early, take extended lunches, surf the web while making work related calls. BUT - only because there are days that I bust butt, and barely see daylight. I bend over as far as my employer will bend for me. And now, there are no limits and I adore the company like it is my own.

No time for you = unhealthy lifestyle.

Like my husband says;
I work to live, not live to work.

Answer 10

It depends on your environment.

Unfortunately, most places of employment expect you to look busy and don't recognize production.

You could produce as much work as someone else with 1/2 the effort, but if it looks like you are goofing off, your boss remembers this.

Things will be better when the baby boomers leave the work force. The upcoming generations recognize productivity, not how many hours of overtime you put in while looking busy.

Managers need to get it through their heads that if someone is putting in 2 hours of free overtime everynight, yet producing the same amount as someone in a regular workday, this person is not a better worker, he is a worse worker.