Solution Case

What do you think are some of the factors in the modern workplace that contribute to a theft of time? How can those factors be managed?

Two huge factors that have contributed to theft of time in the modern workplace would have to be the elimination of smoking in the workplace, and the creation of the internet. Although I am not a smoker, when smoking was allowed in the workplace, employees that smoked, were able to smoke at will, while completing there work. With the changes and not allowing employees to smoke in the workplace, it created a "need" for these employees to take excessive 3 to 5 minute breaks to get a cigarette. These would be breaks in addition to any allotted breaks that were part of the normal work schedule. Depending on the type of business operation we are talking about, would determine how that could be managed. It would be more difficult to manage a small operation where time keeping was kept by hand, opposed to a system that required you to log in and out of a computer system. In a small operation, it would require supervisors to be more visible so that he / she could address any excessive breaks.

With the internet, the flood gates opened. It seems to get worse with the creation of new social networks. And it is not even only the social networks. People will still go to sports sites, news sites and any site that is of interest at the time. The easiest way to control this problem would be by filtering which sites are appropriate for the type of business you are in. From there, it would be up to the IT department to notify supervisors of any abnormal activity. Although filtering would not stop the theft of time completely, it would reduce it drastically.

In both situations, some sort of disciplinary action plan must be created to address offenders.