Expert Office Advice

That file must be somewhere here… Whether you are going through your papers on a messy desk or entering various keyword combinations in your email search box, doing this too often causes not only stress and aggravation, but can ruin a healthy and composed atmosphere at work.

Constant rummaging around for lost or misplaced documents, files, reports or invoices, as a recent survey shows, is not only affecting the employee who lost the items, but also makes things more difficult for those overtaking the position. It turned out that one in three employees at middle manager or lower level has landed in such a situation while covering or replacing someone.

Approximately 87 % of survey participants admitted being affected by misplaced documents, with two thirds calling it an ‘extremely frustrating’ experience.

Other findings show that one in three missed an important deadline as a result, one in four saw their work relationships go downhill, and one in five admitted feeling embarrassed in front of clients, customers or managers.