Ok, this research had me thinking: ‘say what?’, but the message is clear: “Internet browsing can improve millennial attention to workplace tasks”. This recent research article has empirically test the theory of Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing, its effectiveness in restoring overall attention to workplace tasks, and attitudes toward workplace Internet browsing among differing age groups.  The implication of this dual study is that short breaks that include non-work related Internet browsing can potentially improve younger workers’ (under the age of 30) attention to work tasks.

Oh, but than I got it, it’s all about the importance of breaks to maintain attention, something we’ve known for a long time. Bear in mind, browsing for leisure in the classroom during classes doesn’t help attention that well.

Do note that for sure the second study of the research has some points one can criticize as it’s based on self reporting via online surveys, I think the first study is more relevant.

From the press release:

Concentration during workplace tasks is of the upmost importance; however, it declines over time as mental resources are expended, with cited research from the study finding that subjects begin to lose concentration after 5 to 15 minutes before needing a break. According to the study, “WILB is the act of using the company Internet for personal reasons during work hours, which might include watching YouTube movies, engaging in social media sites such as Facebook, or doing any other activity that might be construed as personal Internet use outside of organizationally set tasks.” Based on the constructs, the researcher theorized that [1] WILB will have positive effects on a worker’s attention to a task by reducing vigilance decrement — a psychological term meaning a decline in attention to a task as time progresses — and [2] workers under the age of 30 recognize WILB as having a more positive effect on their workplace productivity than older workers because they grew up in the “technology age.”

To test these hypotheses, two separate studies were conducted. The first study assessed the overall task vigilance of four separate groups receiving a different kind of short break while at work: WILB break (surfing Facebook for five minutes), Internet break (comparing separate insurance policies for best deal), stationary break (remaining in place), and no break. The results indicated that task vigilance did not decay as much for those in the WILB group compared to the other three groups. The second study utilized online surveys to a nationwide sample of 2700 office workers to determine the differing attitudes towards WILB among separated age groups. The results indicated that younger workers reap attitudinal and attention benefits from WILB that older workers do not.

“The implication of this research for managers is that WILB should not necessarily be treated as ‘cyberloafing,’ whereby perpetrators should be punished. Although excessive WILB may negatively impact worker performance by consuming time that would otherwise be spent performing work-related tasks, the present research suggests positive benefits within reasonable limits,” wrote the researcher in the discussion. “An interesting avenue for future research would be to examine how motivational factors might moderate any effects of WILB productivity.”

Abstract of the research:

In many organizations, non-work-related web surfing is discouraged. In this research we propose non-work-related web surfing replenishes attentional resources, much like restful legitimate breaks. We tested our prediction in two studies: a controlled experiment vigilance task and a nationwide survey. The results of the experiment suggest that Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing replenishes attentional resources more than less enjoyable types of breaks. The nationwide survey finds a correlation between Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing and perceived productivity for those brought up with the Internet (those younger than 30). Our results add to attention resource theory by providing evidence suggesting enjoyable breaks enable greater continued task vigilance than less enjoyable breaks. We also identify attitudinal differences toward non-work-related web surfing between older and younger workers.