July 23, 2025
Workplace Friction Is Draining Productivity, Says New Dayforce Report
Poor communication, inefficient processes, and bloated tech stacks — all of these are creating workplace friction and steadily eroding productivity across industries.
A new global report from Dayforce reveals that 88% of respondents experience some form of friction at work, preventing them from focusing on the tasks that matter most.
The report, titled Fighting workforce friction to power productivity, identifies four key areas where friction is most damaging: staffing, agility, change, and technology.
Staffing issues are among the most common. Sixty-five percent of workers say that when someone calls in sick, there’s often no one to cover their work. Managers are also struggling with 36% of them saying scheduling is a challenge, while 31% point to difficulties in forecasting labour needs. The report suggests that workforce planning technology can help improve flexibility and compliance.
Agility friction is limiting how quickly organisations can adapt. More than half of respondents (51%) believe they could contribute more value in a different role, but only 43% say their company offers structured upskilling or reskilling. Investing in career development and internal mobility can help companies become more responsive and retain talent.
Change management is another cause of trouble. While 84% of employees say their organisation has undergone change in the past year, only 44% say those changes were communicated effectively. On top of that, 52% say that these shifts have actually reduced efficiency.
Technology plays a huge role when it comes to getting the job done. Sixty-nine percent say their company uses too many platforms, and 66% say adopting new tools often reduces, rather than improves, efficiency. Simplifying tech stacks and choosing integrated solutions could help teams focus on high-value work.
Steve Holdridge, President and Chief Operating Officer, Dayforce, said: “Technology disruption and a fluid operating environment are creating friction across organisations, leading to frustrated employees and wasted time and resources. Tackling this complexity crisis requires reducing friction caused by poor communication, mismatched technology, and aligning worker skills with defined roles. For leaders, this means creating clear goals, delivering proper skills training, and equipping their people with the tools they need to do the work they’re meant to do.”
