Before work-from-home arrangements became the norm, employers typically relied on in-person supervision to get a sense of their employees’ productivity. Then came the pandemic, where productivity monitoring tools proliferated, much to employees’ irk when these tools began to feel intrusive and dehumanising.

However, discussions of monitoring productivity begs the question: what levels of productivity can employers realistically expect? Most people know that no two days are the same – there are days that are more productive than others, and those where the screen is always stuck on a blank document.

Milieu Insight polled N=2500 full-time employees in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam on their productivity levels in a typical workday, and how much of the time that they spend on non-work activities. The survey was conducted in January 2022.

Employees are typically productive 5 to 6 hours a day, more so in the first half of the day

  • Average of 45% indicated that they are usually productive 5 or 6 hours a day
  • 72% say that they are most productive in the first half of the day (8am – 12.59pm), versus 19% who chose (1pm – 6.59pm)
  • Managers should keep note of giving employees the time and space to complete urgent tasks, or those requiring concentration/flow – meetings held in the morning should be time-efficient; activities requiring less effort such as attending seminars, team-building activities may ideally be held after 1pm

Employees usually spend below an hour on non-work activities during the workday

  • 72% indicate that they spend <1 hour on non-work activities
  • Social media is the top activity (64%), particularly so in Thailand (72%); snacking (45%) and chatting with friends (36%) come next
  • Interestingly, 17% also spend some time during their workday on housework – made possible by WFH arrangements

Allow employees the flexibility to take breaks when needed

  • Managers cannot expect employees to be 100% productive every day, or that employees uniformly take breaks the same way
  • When asked if they prefer one long break in workday, or scattered short breaks, responses are divided

Methodology

Based on Milieu surveys with N=500 full time employees each in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, conducted in January 2022.

 

About Milieu Insight

Milieu Insight is a consumer data and analytics company that connects businesses directly with their target audience. Milieu’s platform offers businesses a wide range of tools for accessing, analyzing, and visualizing high-value and timely consumer opinion data to help power better decision-making and strategy. For more information about Milieu Insight visit: www.mili.eu

 

 

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