Half the Workday Lost to Routine Tasks as Burnout Rises

A growing share of U.S. office workers say their jobs are being consumed by digital busywork, leaving them exhausted and disengaged.

Workdays Buried Under Repetition

New research shows that the typical American knowledge worker spends just over half the day handling repetitive or low-value tasks. The findings come from a national survey by Talker Research^[1], commissioned by Hewlett-Packard^[2], which asked 2,000 employees and 1,000 IT decision makers about how their workdays unfold.

Workers estimate that 51 percent of their time goes to managing emails, organizing data, searching for files, and other administrative chores. For many, these tasks have become so routine that they now define the day more than the work people were hired to do.

A third of respondents said they have considered leaving their jobs because of outdated or frustrating technology. The same proportion reported that their digital tools actively contribute to their stress levels.

Eighty-five percent named repetitive work as one of the main causes of burnout. Most said these tasks create stress roughly four times a week, which means more than 200 stressful moments a year.

The Cost of Low-Value Work

The top time drains tell a clear story. Writing emails leads the list at 31 percent of time spent, followed by data management at 25 percent and catching up on team communications at 22 percent. Another 18 percent of work hours vanish while employees search through files or emails to find what they need.

Those minutes add up to a sense of fatigue that is hard to ignore. Employees say the monotony makes them feel disconnected from the work that once motivated them. When attention is consumed by repetitive chores, creative problem-solving and teamwork often suffer.

IT leaders see the pattern too. More than three quarters say their employees spend too much time on menial work. Yet fewer than four in ten workers believe they have the right digital tools to succeed. Only 37 percent strongly agree that their current systems help them do their best work, and just 39 percent believe their companies are preparing them to adapt to new demands.

What Workers Want from Technology

Employees are not asking for major overhauls or complex platforms. They want small but effective tools that make everyday tasks smoother. The most requested improvements are better data handling, help composing emails, automatic form filling, and easier file organization.

IT departments say help is on the way. Seventy percent of decision makers plan to introduce integrated AI tools within the next year. Half also intend to improve device performance, and many are exploring automation that can handle routine reporting and coordination.

The promise is appealing, but workers remain cautious. Many have seen technology upgrades in the past that added new steps instead of removing them. The challenge is ensuring that new tools truly cut the workload instead of creating another layer of digital maintenance.

Can AI Lighten the Load?

Artificial intelligence could make a difference if applied to specific problems. Systems that draft simple emails, fill out forms, or search documents automatically could return hours to the average workweek. However, if poorly designed, AI could also become one more system to learn and one more login to manage.

Experts say success will depend on clarity. Companies that target precise pain points and measure results… such as fewer interruptions, faster data handling, and lower stress… will see meaningful improvements. Those that add tools without addressing workflow will only shift the burden elsewhere.

Looking Toward 2026

The findings reflect a broader truth about modern work. Productivity tools have multiplied, but they have not necessarily made people more productive. Many employees now spend much of their energy managing the technology that was meant to save them time.

For workplaces willing to rethink how digital systems fit into daily routines, the next year could bring a turning point. If technology begins to remove rather than add friction, burnout rates may finally start to ease.

Until then, half the workday remains tied up in tasks that keep offices running but hold people back from doing their most valuable work.

Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

Read next:

• Workforce Rewired: AI Drives the Fastest Occupational Shift in Modern History^[3]

• Creators Get More Control as YouTube Blends Livestream Access with Smarter Brand Kits^[4]