From emails to burnout: Why half the workday feels like a waste

American workers say they’re drowning in busywork — and it’s draining productivity, fueling stress, and even pushing some to quit.

That’s according to a poll of 2,000 white collar and knowledge workers and 1,000 IT decision makers. Results showed these employees are losing an estimated half of their day (51% total work hours estimated) on tedious, low-value tasks like copying and pasting, managing emails and data entry.

In fact, one in three respondents has considered quitting a job because of outdated or frustrating tech, and a similar number (33%) of workers believe that their current work technology is contributing to feelings of stress.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of HP, the survey also found that 85% of workers said repetitive tasks are a top contributor to burnout.

Respondents also said that repetitive tasks triggered stress four times a week — more than 200 times a year — while workplace technology itself disrupts focus about three times a week.

Beyond heightening stress, repetitive tasks breed apathy — leaving employees disengaged and less invested in their work, and robbing them of time to think creatively, solve problems and collaborate meaningfully.

An overwhelming 76% of IT decision makers said their company employees are wasting too much time on menial work.

“These findings highlight a growing disconnect between the work people are hired and inspired to do and the work they actually spend time on,” said Amy Winhoven, Global Head of Business Personal Systems and Alliance Marketing for HP. “When creative potential is buried under administrative burden, companies waste talent. Those who prioritize work that is fulfilling will unlock growth. Those that don’t will fall behind.”

The top time drains?

Writing emails (31%), data management (25%), catching up on team communications (22%) and digging through files or emails (18%). Workers also pointed to managing calendars and meetings (16%), reporting (15%), troubleshooting tech issues (14%) and filling out forms like timesheets and expense reports (14%).

Even as workers lose half their day to busy work, fewer than four in 10 believe their employer is giving them the right tools to succeed.

Just 37% strongly agree their current tools allow them to do their best work, and only 39% believe their employer is equipping them to thrive in today’s fast-changing environment. That disconnect fuels frustration, stress and disengagement.

Employees say they’re eager for simpler, smarter tools that free them from repetitive tasks like data management (24%), writing emails (19%), filling out forms (18%) and organizing files (17).

And IT leaders are listening. Seventy percent of IT decision makers say they plan to roll out integrated AI tools in the next 12 months. Other priorities include faster device performance (50%), better collaboration software (44%), and more automation (44%).

With workplace tech still falling short for many employees, it’s clear the promise of innovation hasn’t caught up with reality, but with IT leaders signaling a wave of AI and automation tools on the horizon, 2025 could mark a turning point.

“Modern work should spark creativity, not get buried under repetitive tasks,” added Winhoven. “The future isn’t about piling on more tech — it’s about using AI to move busywork into the background and open up new possibilities, so people can focus on work that inspires them.”

TOP TIME-DRAINS ACCORDING TO WORKERS:
● Writing emails (31%)
● Data management (25%)
● Catching up on team communications (22%)
● Searching for and organizing files and emails (18%)
● Managing calendars and meetings (16%)
● Reporting (15%)
● Troubleshooting tech issues (14%)
● Filling out forms like timesheets or expense reports (14%)

Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 white collar workers/knowledge workers and 1,000 ITDMs at companies with over 100 employees; the survey was commissioned by HP and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Aug. 25 - Sept 2, 2025.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
● Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
● Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
● Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
● Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
● Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
● Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.