Over half of UK employees’ time is spent on low-value tasks or ‘busywork’, with employees struggling to balance their workloads due to inefficient practices and tools
Asana’s State of Work Innovation Report highlights the productivity challenges facing UK organisations in 2024. The report, which included 13,000 knowledge workers globally, with 2,500 participants from the UK, identifies four major areas of concern – low capacity, low resilience, disconnection, and low velocity.
These factors contribute to a drag on productivity and indicate a need for urgent reform in the way UK businesses operate.
Low Capacity: Wasted Time on Unproductive Tasks
A major finding of the report is that 54 percent of UK employees’ time is spent on ‘busywork’, which includes low-value tasks that do not contribute to the core objectives of their roles. The study found that workers are losing valuable time in unnecessary meetings, spending an average of four hours per week in discussions that do not yield productive outcomes. This figure has doubled since 2019.
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More concerning yet, 68 percent of employees feel their managers lack a clear understanding of their workloads, leading to uneven distribution of tasks across teams. This often results in reliance on a few high-performing individuals, with 54 percent of workers stating that their team depends on a small group to get essential work done. In addition, 67 percent admitted to performing ‘productivity theatre’ – acting busy without achieving meaningful progress.
Low Resilience: Lack of Confidence in Organisational Agility
The research also identifies low organisational resilience as a key challenge, with only 22 percent of UK workers confident that their business can adapt to future challenges. This reflects a growing concern among employees about their organisation’s ability to remain productive in the face of changing economic conditions and technological advancements.
The lack of agility is particularly problematic in industries that face rapid shifts in market demand or regulatory changes. Only 24 percent of respondents reported that their organisation regularly updates its strategic goals in response to evolving priorities. This lack of flexibility can lead to stagnation and prevent companies from seizing new opportunities or responding to crises effectively.
Disconnection: Fragmented Teams and Poor Alignment
Disconnection within teams is another major issue identified in the study, with workers feeling increasingly siloed and disengaged. Only 16 percent of UK knowledge workers reported that teams within their organisations collaborate effectively across departments. This lack of communication leads to duplicated efforts and wasted resources, preventing teams from moving forward efficiently.
Furthermore, only 52 percent of workers said they understand how their work contributes to their company’s broader goals. This disconnect is compounded by a lack of accountability, with 41 percent of respondents admitting that they don’t feel responsible for delivering high-quality work. The study also revealed that toxic behaviours, such as exaggerating workloads and withholding important information, are common, further slowing progress and diminishing team effectiveness.
Low Velocity: Bottlenecks Slowing Progress
The study highlights a significant problem with low velocity – workers are spending too much time navigating bottlenecks caused by outdated tools and fragmented technology. Employees report spending an average of nine hours per week searching for information, a clear sign that inefficient processes are hindering productivity.
A staggering 96 percent of workers still rely on spreadsheets to manage their workload, and 98 percent depend on email, contributing to what the study describes as ‘information sprawl’. Additionally, 66 percent of respondents said their organisation’s collaboration tools make their jobs harder, not easier. This over-reliance on outdated and fragmented systems is a significant barrier to efficiency in today’s fast-paced work environment.
The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) is also a point of contention. The study found that 33 percent of employees admitted to using unauthorised ‘shadow AI’ tools, which poses significant security risks. Furthermore, only 27 percent of workers said their organisation provides sufficient AI training, highlighting a need for clearer guidance and better integration of AI tools in the workplace.
Leadership Insights: The Need for Change
Dr Rebecca Hinds, Head of Asana’s Work Innovation Lab, says that these findings should serve as a wake-up call for business leaders. “The last five years have completely reshaped how we work, but too many teams are still stuck in outdated practices that drain productivity,” she said. “Holding onto these old habits has come at a high cost—leaving teams disconnected and overwhelmed.
“With asynchronous work now central to modern workplaces, businesses need to move beyond outdated methods like relying on meetings to solve every problem, face-to-face conversations for critical information, and letting teams adopt technology in silos.
“AI has the capability to help, but too many organisations are only using AI to boost individual productivity. By applying AI across the organisation, it gains critical context of the work that is happening—giving organisations the clarity of who is doing what and by when. Only then will businesses create connections, move faster, build resilience, and balance workloads.”
