More than a third of employees have admitted to faking activity during work hours, according to a new survey from Irish tech firm Workhuman and Pollfish.

The report, which featured insights from 1,000 full-time employees in Ireland, revealed that 42pc of those surveyed scroll through social media while pretending to be busy.

A further 41pc opt to complete personal errands during work hours.

Of those who admitted to faking activity while at work, 37pc said they did so to have a better work-life balance.

The research also showed that employees who are less engaged with their work are more likely to pretend they are working.

Over half of respondents said they do the bare minimum to get through the day when they are feeling less engaged.

A further 17pc stated they fake activity during times of low engagement in their jobs.

Managers play an important role in boosting engagement with their teams, Workhuman reported.

Around 46pc said their manager’s involvement helps them perform their role better, while 32pc added that their manager helps to remove roadblocks.

This support can potentially boost productivity.

The report found that almost three-quarters of managers believe it is important to know the exact hours their direct reports are working.

However, constant surveillance is not the solution to reducing the time employees spend pretending to work, the research suggested.

A focus on monitoring could unintentionally contribute to more ‘fake activity’ as employees feel pressured to look busy.

“The reality is that most Irish employees aren’t faking activity, but many feel compelled to do so,” said Niamh Graham, Workhuman senior vice president of global human experience.

"Our research findings highlight deeper issues around workplace expectations, and the illusion of being ‘always on’, with many employees feeling they need to fake activity to appear busy, rather than being genuinely productive,” she added.

Ms Graham called on companies to focus on building an organisational culture where staff are recognised for their achievements in the workplace.

“High-trust, collaborative working environments, combined with meaningful recognition, can drive greater engagement, higher productivity, and a stronger sense of belonging and purpose,” she said.

"This approach not only reduces the need to fake activity but fosters a more motivated and productive workforce overall.”

Reporting on:independent.ie