WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION     TIME WASTERS

Singapore - You're wrong if you thought internet was the biggest office distraction because close to half of employees polled in Singapore say talkative colleagues are, in fact, the biggest time-wasters at work.

Besides being distracted by chatty peers, 31% of Singapore employees are bogged by personal email and online surfing. Eight percent said taking smoke breaks was another time-consuming activity, according to a global poll by recruitment specialists Robert Walters.

Across the Asia region, seven in ten New Zealanders and 67% employees in Hong Kong are particularly distracted by their talkative peers as well. Globally, almost half of respondents polled says talkative co-workers are also the most common grouse they have at work while one in three say internet takes up their time. Only employees in South Africa said personal emails and internet are the biggest office distractions.

Andrea Ross, managing director of Robert Walters Singapore, says conversations with colleagues can be hard to avoid with most offices using an open concept layout. While informal chats can provide a welcome respite from the day's work, Ross says employees often engage conversations with colleagues out of politeness. "Of course, the odd chat during the day can spark new ideas but there is a balance that needs to be struck."

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