Winning Tips from Small Businesses

September 3 2003 - A Xerox Canada/Environics Research Group Survey of 250 Canadian small business owners and managers found that workers in Canada's small and medium sized companies are clocking in earlier and punching out later - but it is not necessarily time well spent.

The study showed that more than half (51%) of Canadian workers spent more than 9 hours at work each day. But most (65%) are only productive for about half that time.

"Compared with research done with those working at large corporations, Canadians working with small and medium businesses are more likely to put in longer hours, given the challenges of staffing and overhead," says Jane Armstrong, senior vice president, Environics Research Group. "In contrast, while the survey results indicate that productivity levels have dropped, the majority of respondents still feel that they have a healthy balance between work and personal life."

Indeed, three-quarters of Canadian workers with small and medium sized businesses believe that they have a healthy balance between work and play, and that work does not prevent them from enjoying hobbies or spending time with family and friends.

Main findings of the survey included:

1. The early bird gets the worm: the majority of workers (68%) are most productive and do their best work in the morning.

2. Dress for success: 54% of managers prefer a work dress code of "casual Fridays", 23% ultimate casual, and 12% "traditional professional"

3. Money talks: 25% of managers list monetary rewards as their greatest motivator, while 18% said "nothing" could motivate them to be more productive

4. Need coffee: 65% of managers report only 3 to 6 hours of peak productivity.

5. ...and lots of it: the majority of respondents reported an average workday of more than 9 hours.

6. Colour sells: 80% believe that using colour gives their ideas and proposals greater credence

7. Go Logo: Six in ten workers say red and blue coloured logos are most associated with a successful company

8. Eight is enough: Managers who work between seven to eight hours a day report greater satisfaction than those who work longer days

On behalf of Xerox Canada, Environics Research Group conducted 250 interviews with Canadian small business owners or managers with fewer than 100 employees between February 20th and 28th, 2003. The survey has a margin of error of +/-6.2%.