What do people do at work when they're not working?

• Author(s): Tavares, Sérgio Miguel
• Date: 2009
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/9648
• Origin: Repositório Institucional da UNL
• Subject(s): Breaks; Interruptions; Non-work related practises; Productivity
• Document Type: Master thesis
• Language: English
• Advisor(s): Cunha, João Vieira da
• Contributor(s): RUN

Description

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

The effects of interruptions at work were investigated, first through the work experience of a group of 20 white collar employees and as complementary information an overview of the interruptions literature was taken. Specifically this study falls on the reasons leading to employees solicited interruptions at work and which non-related work activities they engage in. The importance of these practises to the organization is the key variable of study of this project. Mainly, workers interrupt work in order to unwind, to establish relationships with colleagues, to take care of personal life and to gain stimulus to work. This study demonstrates the importance of practises performed by the employees and the positive impact they have in the organization.