The large amount of administrative tasks staff are required to carry out could be preventing them from focussing their attention on business development, it has been suggested.
According to new research from cloud software provider Keboko, the average UK worker spends 37 days a year carrying out basic administrative tasks, such as updating reports, inputting data and filing expenses.
It estimates that this is costing UK firms £104 billion a year in time that could be spent growing the business.
Data entry was found to be the most time consuming administrative task, with 18 per cent of workers spending more than six hours a week on it.
The majority of the 1,117 employees surveyed by the company said that they would prefer to devote more of their time to meeting prospective clients, promoting the business they work for, and supporting existing clients.
"If the average worker started working on these tasks at the beginning of 2011, they would work non-stop until lunchtime on Monday March 7th," commented Keboko chief executive Charlie Cowan.
"Companies can't afford for staff to spend such a large amount of time on non-billable activities."
It comes as the same week as research from Kellogg revealed that more than three million UK workers do not see daylight during their typical working day in winter, which can lead to a drop in productivity.
Written by Julian Poulter
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