We all know that record numbers of office workers now bring their smartphone to work and spend time on social media sites while on the clock. But face to face socialization with other employees still reigns as the biggest workplace distraction. That’s according to a recent survey sponsored by CareerBuilder. Fewer than 40 percent of office workers claimed to spend a full eight hour day actually working. More than 10 percent admitted that they only work four of the hours for which they are being paid. Most fell somewhere in the middle. Chatty coworkers were most often named as a distracting factor. One third of respondents said this issue as their number one distraction – and the topics under discussion around the “water cooler” had nothing to do with work. While it’s certainly important for team members to build bonds of camaraderie, a workplace culture that doesn’t encourage a focus on actual work is going to struggle with productivity.

What policies and managerial practices do you have in place to help workers concentrate without destroying the friendly atmosphere? Share your strategies in the comments.