It’s not just you – report finds almost 1 in 3 workers scroll their phone in meetings, and that’s only the tip of the bad habits iceberg

• July 30, 2026

• 31.7% of surveyed employees admit to scrolling on their phones during meetings
• Distraction habits are taking over the workplace, with potentially devastating consequences for long-term employment prospects
• Directors are over 4 times more likely to arrive late for a meeting than an entry-level employee

Scrolling through your phone is now considered preferable to engaging in discussion in meetings, with almost a third (31.7%) of employees admitting to looking at their phone instead of the daily PowerPoint, new research has claimed.

Digital distractions in the workplace are costing employees of all ages opportunities to progress, while Gen Z employees are struggling with time management. The findings of a Careerminds UK survey of 600 UK employees highlight meetings, emails, and notifications delivering distraction from the focused task, with completion or attention to personal tasks while at work by 37.2% of respondents.

Time management challenges are affecting employees across the workplace, with Gen Z particularly singled out as struggling to get organized and engage.

“Career-damaging habits”

The survey found chronic laziness, ignored messages, and phone scrolling in meetings among the bad habits, with 44.2% of respondents admitting to indulging in 3 or more “career-damaging habits” every month.

Meanwhile, the threat of “quiet habits” can potentially have the biggest impact on any chance of progression with your current employer.

If you’re prone to avoidance behavior such as staying silent in meetings (31%), venting about a line manager to a colleague (19.2%), or saying yes to a task you cannot complete (5.7%) then you also need to look at ways to break the habits that are holding you back.

“None of these behaviours is likely to derail a career on its own, but together they influence how reliable, engaged and ready for greater responsibility you appear to the people making decisions about promotions and pay rises,” noted Amanda Augustine, a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and resident careers expert at Careerminds UK.

“The encouraging news is that these aren’t fixed personality traits; rather, they’re everyday habits that can be identified, addressed and improved upon with consistent effort.”

Gen Z: struggling with time management

Perhaps the most concerning data emerging from the survey, however, involves Gen Z. Careerminds UK found found that over a quarter (26.7%) of employees in the 18-29 age group arrived late to meetings in the previous month, far more than the 3.3% rate in the over 55s group. Additionally, the younger cohort is more likely to “pull a sickie” (26.7% versus 12.2%) for extra time off.

However, there is perhaps an opportunity for directors to set an example and arrive at meetings on time, with 38.0% more likely to arrive late for meetings, as opposed to 9.2% of entry-level employees.

Advice from Careerminds UK includes becoming more organized at work, putting time aside for dealing with messages, being present, engaged, and communicative, and admitting to challenges to deadlines before they become an issue.

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31.7% of surveyed employees admit to scrolling on their phones during meetings Distraction habits are taking over the workplace, with potentially devastating consequences for long-term employment prospects Directors are over 4 times more likely to arrive late for a meeting than an entry-level employee Scrolling through your phone is now…