IT staff ‘use work time to carry out personal tasks’

-

Three quarters of British IT professionals say they feel no guilt about carrying out personal tasks during the working day, according to a new survey.

According to the IT Job Board half of IT workers make personal phone calls at work and 61 per cent send non-work emails, yet just one-quarter say they feel it is wrong for them to do so.

Of those questioned, 17 per cent said they use work time to carry out such tasks because they do not have enough to do, while almost nine per cent said it was because they are underpaid for the amount of work they carry out.

The survey also studied the responses of IT professionals in other countries and found both striking similarities and large differences in attitudes towards carrying out private tasks at work.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Research carried out by the Learning and Skills Council in August revealed that UK employees waste around 40 days per year gossiping, waiting on colleagues, being kept on hold on the phone and sitting in traffic jams.

Latest news

Curtis Holmes: Payroll is the driver for employee engagement

Payroll has long been treated as a back-office necessity: essential, but not something that shapes culture or drives engagement. This no longer stands.

Labour market yet to show major AI impact on jobs, govt adviser says

A government economic adviser has challenged predictions of widespread AI-driven unemployment, arguing labour market data has yet to show disruption.

Young workers ‘pressured into signing NDAs after workplace injuries’

Workers say injuries are being hidden behind confidentiality agreements while financial pressures leave many afraid to challenge unsafe conditions.

CIPD recognises 30 HR leaders driving change across UK workplaces

The CIPD has unveiled its HR30 list for 2026, recognising senior people leaders whose work has delivered measurable impact across organisations and workforces.
- Advertisement -

Brits dream of being their own boss, but still cling to the monthly pay cheque, survey reveals

Britons say they like the idea of self-employment, but most still value the security and stability of traditional jobs.

AI Coaching Won’t Replace Managers. It Will Expose Coaching Debt.

As AI coaching expands, employers may gain a clearer view of where manager support is falling short.

Must read

Ruth Penfold: That time I realised that change is the only constant

Ruth Penfold is a well known figure in the HR industry and has spent her last few years leading talent acquisition at popular media tech firm Shazam. Here she discusses the important factors of successful employee engagement.

Sharon Benson: Keeping seasonal colleagues engaged

Sharon Benson, HR Director at studio.co.uk on how to value seasonal colleagues and ensure the smooth running of business during the busiest period of the year.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you