For every hour of interrupted sleep, workers ‘cyberloafed’ for 20% of their assigned task, leading to an estimated $434million in productivity losses annually. That’s according to new analysis from leading talent acquisition specialist, Guidant Global.

‘Cyberloaf’ is the act of using company facilities to browse non-work-related websites, and according to temporary staffing agency, Flexy, this increases on the Monday following the switch to daylight saving time.

There has been extensive research into the impact of aligning time for summer and winter months and the impact this has on the workforce.

A study conducted on mining workers found that on the Mondays following the switch to DST in the US, workers sustained 6% more workplace injuries and accidents of greater severity. This resulted in 67% more days required off work because of workplace injuries sustained on that specific day.

Commenting on how the switch to British Summer Time (BST) can impact employees, Oliver Crofton, Managing Director at Flexy said:

“It’s fascinating to see how the switch to British Summer Time can impact the workforce. As this is something that has been happening for decades, few people question it, however, it’s crucial that we question the value of it.”

“Solving the UK’s productivity puzzle has been high on the business agenda for some time now, and even given today’s challenges, by looking into aspects such as the switch to BST, along with various other facets that impact the workforce, we can ensure that we are creating a better, more productive world of work.”