CorpComms Magazine

As the clocks go back and days darken, the UK will see lost productivity amounting to £165 million a day, according to a study by international marketing agency GyroHSR.

Sixty five per cent of employees waste 45 minutes every working day during the dark winter months owing to lapsed concentration and a lack of motivation. The losses add up to 100 hours per person over the six month period from the end of British Summer Time.

UK cereal manufacturer Kellogg's is encouraging employees to take the edge off the working day by coming in an hour late or leaving an hour early over the winter period, after a study by the company found that two out of five workers see less than half an hour of daylight on winter weekdays and one in ten sees none at all. 

Workers also reported lower energy levels, mood and motivation during winter months, with half of staff estimating that their productivity dropped by more than 30 per cent during this time.

Richard Perry, chief operating officer of GyroHSR, said: 'The purpose of conducting this research is to urge the new Government to conduct a formal review of the impact daylight savings has on businesses. We fully recognise the importance the hour change plays to the farming community and child road safety. But we also recognise the damaging affect it has on UK Plc.'

Kirsty Leyland, human resources director for European reward at Kellogg's, commented: 'The results of this report into the UK workforce were a real eye opener to the detrimental effects daylight deprivation in the winter can have on mood and productivity at work. Our scheme offers employees the chance to make sure they use our flexible working system to see as much daylight as possible.'

share me: del.icio.us | digg | reddit | Tweet