In a world where smartphones have become an integral part of daily life, new research reveals that 60 percent of Brits admit they can’t go an entire workday without checking their phones.
Whether it’s for personal messages, social media, or work-related alerts, the need to stay connected proves too strong for the majority of the workforce.
For many, the urge to check their phone is constant. A third of respondents said they check their phones every time a notification pops up, while some go even further—17 percent confessing to doing so multiple times per hour. When factoring in an average of 146 daily notifications, Brits could be losing up to 94 hours a year—nearly four full days—distracted by their phones during working hours.
This constant connectivity has tangible costs. Based on average salaries, businesses could be losing £550 in productivity annually for every worker who frequently checks their phone, amounting to substantial financial losses across organisations.
Pressure to Stay Connected Is High
Phone-checking at work isn’t solely due to personal reasons. Over 41 percent of employees reported feeling pressured to stay connected via emails, Slack, or other work-related communication, driving a culture of constant connectivity. This expectation can add stress, forcing many to constantly juggle between tasks and distractions.
Social Media: A Major Workplace Distraction for 1 in 4 Brits
Social media poses a notable productivity challenge for 26 percent of workers who say its use during work hours affects their performance. However, more than half (51%) don’t believe their social media habits impact their work, illustrating the divided opinions on the role of digital distractions in the workplace.
Finding Focus Amid Distractions
While distractions are a significant issue, not all workers are powerless against them. Nearly 40 percent of employees say they manage focus by balancing regular breaks with periods of uninterrupted work. Interestingly, only 13 percent reported using apps or tools to help stay focused, while others rely on simple tactics like music or noise-cancelling headphones to drown out distractions.
The survey further highlighted that 43 percent of workers feel most productive in the mornings, while only 14 percent reach peak productivity later in the day. Remote work, too, plays a role in focus, with 38 percent feeling more productive at home, though a quarter find themselves more distracted.
In an era dominated by notifications, these findings illustrate just how much smartphones and connectivity are shaping—and in some cases hindering—productivity in the modern workplace.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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