Staff 'waste' three hours a day

WOKRERS are wasting up to three hours a day because of technical problems such as computers crashing and having to attend unnecessary meetings, according to a new report today.

Putting up with annoying colleagues and dealing with unnecessary phone calls also wasted valuable time, research showed.

A survey of over 1,000 office workers by direct payment firm Bacs revealed slow running computers had become the biggest cause of wasted time.

Michael Chambers, managing director of Bacs Payment Schemes, said: 'No office can ever be 100% efficient, but it's ironic that so much time is being wasted on the very devices that we trust to streamline office processes.'

Most of those questioned said computers, mobile phones and other technology could create extra work. Psychologist Nicola Barber said: 'Most British workers are doing more than their contractual hours - the vast majority without overtime pay.

'By addressing inefficiencies some companies may be able to reduce the hours employees need to spend at work, and at the same time, keep the workforce happy and motivated.'