Workers prefer gossips to time-wasters this Labor Day

In a recent online survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for Atlanta-based Randstad staffing firm, 43 percent of 1,037 employed U.S. adults ranked poor time management as the No. 1 workplace annoyance. Thirty-six percent chose gossip, which in Randstad's original 2007 survey ranked No. 1 and poor time management, No. 2.

Today's economy seems to have impacted what most annoys people, said Eileen Habelow, senior vice president of organizational development for Randstad.

"Whether it is budget cuts or staff layoffs, employees are being asked to do more work with fewer resources," Habelow said. "So it would only make sense (that) they would be a bit bothered by co-workers who they believe are having an impact on their time and possibly company productivity."

Respondents to the 2007 and 2010 surveys similarly ranked other annoyances, including messiness in communal spaces (No. 3 both years), loud noises, potent scents, overuse of electronic devices in meetings and misuse of e-mail.

Among poor time management practices, taking excessive breaks — like long lunches — causes the most aggravation, according to the survey. Other frustrations include abuse of sick days, workers who consistently miss deadlines, unstructured overrun meetings, and workers who text during meetings.

Shannon Warren, founding director of the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium, isn't surprised with the findings.