Speakers at the 20th edition of the Timekeeping Dialogue Series have advised Ghanaians to devise ways to make better use of the hours they spend caught up in road traffic.
The series, a roundtable for conversations on workplace and societal productivity, was held under the theme, “Busy, Stressed and Still Behind: Rethinking Productivity for the Ghanaian.”
Naa Ameley Asiedu, Head of Human Resources at Ocean Network Express Ghana Limited, observed that transportation challenges are diminishing the quality of life of the Ghanaian worker. She noted that many employees leave home very early to avoid rush-hour traffic, often resulting in sleep deprivation.
Those who are unable to leave home early spend several hours crawling through traffic before getting to work, leaving them fatigued and less productive.
Naa Ameley further noted that despite the strain and inconvenience this routine places on workers, many organisations in the capital and across the country continue to measure physical presence rather than productivity.
She also stated that many employees are increasingly distracted by social media during office hours.
Beyond the distraction of social media, some workers also find themselves drawn into toxic workplace gossip, to the detriment of productivity.
Francis Gota, Chief Executive Officer of AYO Ghana, advised workers to use the time they spend in traffic to complete some pending tasks before arriving at the office.
He said, “You can use the time you spend in traffic to answer emails, for instance.”
He also advised employers to ensure that their subordinates possess the right attitudes and values to drive workplace productivity.
He urged leaders to instil a results-oriented mindset in their employees, noting that “productivity is not simply about effort.”
Dr. Richardson Doe, General Manager of the Multimedia Group, urged employers and managers to “provide clarity for their employees to prevent them from wasting their efforts. Clear communication will improve outcomes.”
He also advised workers to disable notifications from the numerous social media applications and groups on their phones.
Dr. Doe further encouraged employees to make greater use of voice notes and text messages where appropriate, to reduce the time they spend on their phones.
The virtual conversation is hosted by Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Communications for Development advocate and co-convened by the Dufia of Adidome, TogbeKwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V.
