Wasting time at work? Join the club!

You might think that, with a recession going on, people would be likely to work harder. After all, jobs just aren't as plentiful as they were a year ago, and it seems like this would be a good time to knuckle down, put your nose to the grindstone, and give it your all.

Have you ever noticed how many work-related cliches there are?

At any rate, you would be wrong; in point of fact, the recession actually seems to be reducing productivity. According to a recent survey by Leadership IQ, a Washington DC-based business consulting firm, employees are wasting 44% more time than they were a year ago. The study queried 6,000 workers and discovered that, by their own admission, employees are currently goofing off for about 25% of their work day. The slowing economy and depressed job market seems to be imbuing workers with an increased sense of lassitude and is actually reducing their dedication to their jobs.