Off Task and Lost Work Productivity: Why, How Much, and Implications for Vocational Expert Testimony

One of the most frequently asked questions of vocational experts in Social Security disability hearings by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is what percentage of the time employees are allowed to be off task before being terminated. Anecdotally, without any research or literature to support their opinions, most vocational experts typically follow the common-sense party line by opining a range of 10% - 20% in an eight-hour workday. A comprehensive. literature review of employers, employees, and human resource personnel was conducted regarding observations of off task work behavior. Overall, several factors were found to be consistent across studies/surveys including industry and occupation type, worker dissatisfaction, education level, the advent of cell phones and social media, employee health status, and work conditions. Implications for vocational experts in providing a more educated opinion regarding this question is discussed.