Half of employees admit to job-hunting at work

20/11/07 11:51

More than half of UK employees admit to using work time to search for a new job, according to new research.

A survey by job search engine foundem.co.uk found that job-seeking Brits are costing UK businesses £7bn in lost productivity every year.

An average 45 minutes per week is spent looking for alternative employment, adding up to five working days every year.

A third of employees have used the phone at their desk to inquire about new jobs and half of those polled said they used their office computer to search employment websites.

One in five said they had even filled out application forms while sitting at their desks at work.

A third of respondents cited boredom as the main reason for job-hunting at work, while a quarter said they did it after becoming annoyed while in the office.

However, the survey revealed it’s not just lost productivity in the office affecting employers. More than 10% of staff have called in sick for time off for an interview, while 17% faked a dentist or doctor’s appointment.

A separate survey by Reed Employment found that Monday morning was the peak time for job searches while Tuesday lunchtime was the most popular time for online job applications. The survey found November was the biggest time for job placements.

Janine Parry, head of marketing at Reed Employment, said:

“November is always our busiest period for placing applicants into permanent roles.

Companies often find they have budget still remaining and are keen to fill their positions before next year’s figures are decided, and before the Christmas lull.”