U.S. knowledge workers likely spend 9.6 hours a day at work

A study by Zapier — a player in productivity automation,  finds that U.S. knowledge workers are likely spending 9.6 hours a day at work, on average, far exceeding the colloquial 9-to-5 workday.

Productivity is top of mind as workdays seemingly get longer. Knowledge workers note they spend 5.8 hours, on average, doing meaningful work each day and a further 3.8 hours, on average, doing busy work. However, knowledge workers believe it takes them 6.9 hours per day, on average, to effectively do their job based on their productivity. Nearly 1 in 3 (30 percent) say being more productive at work is one of their 2020 career resolutions.

Cutting back on busywork could be the secret to reducing workplace stress. Nearly 9 in 10 knowledge workers (87 percent) find parts of their job to be stressful. Nearly 2 in 5 knowledge workers (36 percent) report that being overloaded with busy work is among the most stressful parts of their job.

The search for work-life balance continues. Almost half of the knowledge workers (46 percent) say their mental and/or physical health has been negatively impacted by their job, and around 3 in 10 say their overall happiness (33 percent), personal relationships (31 percent), or hobbies (29 percent) have suffered due to their job.

The report is based on findings from a recent survey commissioned by Zapier and conducted online by The Harris Poll among more than 880 U.S. knowledge workers (adults age 18+ who primarily work in a professional setting and use a computer as part of their job).