Workers More Productive Today Than Five Years Ago; Still Room for Improvement

Staples Canada and Staples Advantage Canada offer solutions to improve worker productivity

TORONTO, June 26, 2013 /CNW/ - While technology limitations and employee burnout rank high on the list of things that decrease productivity, more than 70 per cent of both employers and employees believe that Canadian workers are more productive today than they were five years ago, according to a recent survey from Staples Canada, leader in office supplies and Canada's largest online retailer, and Staples Advantage Canada, the business-to-business division of Staples.

For 55 per cent of employers and employees, mobile technology is important and viewed as aiding productivity in the workplace today while 40 per cent feel break times are beneficial. Telecommuting is viewed as an option that increases productivity among 58 per cent of companies that allow their employees the flexibility to work remotely.

On the other hand, both employers and employees feel that technology limitations (56 per cent), employee burnout (44 per cent) and non-collaborative work environments (36 per cent) are the top three reasons for decreased productivity in the workplace.

Both employers and employees agree that there are a number of other hurdles to productivity including the selection of the wrong items to meet office needs, such as office supplies, furniture, technology and cleaning supplies is also limiting productivity in the work place (52 percent believe these purchasing activities are limiting productivity in the work place).

Texting or e-mailing friends and family  (59 per cent) or socializing with co-workers in the office (56 per cent) are viewed as the primary 'personal business' time-wasters and productivity- limiting activities that employees engage in at  work.

Employers and employees also weighed in on how a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy impacts productivity. Despite mobile technology being touted as a tool for greater productivity, only 34 per cent of companies have a BYOD policy.

"We're seeing a trend in the right direction with more than 70 per cent of employers and employees saying they're more productive now than five years ago," said Michael Zahra, president of Staples Advantage Canada. "But there are still improvements to be made, especially when it comes to having the right tools and resources. To help improve office-wide productivity, we make it easy for businesses to find everything they need including technology, breakroom supplies, furniture and office products."

For companies looking to increase productivity in their offices and overcome some efficiency hurdles, Staples offers the following solutions:

• Collaborative workspaces - Create workspaces where employees can easily communicate and share ideas for group collaboration. Office furniture options now go far beyond the traditional chair, desk and cubicle. Designing an open office environment by including a mix of casual and formal meeting areas encourages spontaneous conversation and teamwork.

• Breakrooms - Stepping away from work in nearby breakrooms helps foster productivity by allowing healthy mental breaks, an opportunity to refuel and have casual conversations. Including comfortable furniture and offer a variety of snacks for workers help make a breakroom inviting and effective.

• Technology -Equip employees with the technology needed to get work done efficiently - from printers and PCs to products that help enable telecommuting, such as tablets and remote access VPN's.

About the Survey
From June 10 -13, 2013, Staples Canada, Staples Advantage Canada and Vision Critical conducted a national online survey among n=386 employers and n=304 employees through the Staples Ideas on Work and Staples Advantage panels.

About Staples Canada
Staples, Canada's largest office products company is committed to providing Canadians with a wide choice of office services and products. Serving all types of business - from the small home office to large enterprise - Staples makes it easy for customers to operate their offices efficiently and affordably by offering an extensive selection of office supplies, technology, electronics and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and maintenance, and copy and print services. Operating as Bureau en GrosMC in the province of Quebec and Staples Canada in all other provinces, the company employs over 15,000 associates at 330+ stores and at their head office in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Ranked as one of Canada's top ten Canadian companies in Marketing Magazine's Marketing/Leger 2011 Corporate Reputation Survey, Staples/Bureau en Gros is dedicated to offering customers the highest level of service, whether they choose to shop in-store, by catalogue or online. Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros also is invested in a number of corporate giving programs that actively support environmental, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives in Canadian communities from coast to coast. Visit www.staples.ca for more information, or visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Staples Advantage Canada
Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, works with companies of 20 or more employees to develop customized programs with dedicated account management and offers a complete assortment of products and services to meet business needs.

As the leading supplier in Canada, Staples Advantage works with business partners to provide office supplies, technology products, facility supplies, furniture, and business services. Staples Advantage Canada is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with eight distribution centres across Canada. Visit www.staplesadvantage.ca for more information, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE: Staples Canada Inc.