Aussie Workers Have Already Lost 2 Weeks in 2025 to Pointless Meetings, Research Reveals

As the new financial year approaches, many business leaders are turning their attention to productivity — and a new study suggests one simple but overlooked change could make a major impact: fewer meetings.

According to a survey of over 1,000 Australian workers, commissioned by office supply company COS, two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they regularly spend time in unnecessary meetings. On average, employees reported losing three hours a week to meetings they deemed unproductive — that’s 144 hours a year, the equivalent of nearly four full working weeks.

The research also revealed a striking gap between leaders and staff. While only 42% of employers and business owners admitted to spending excessive time in meetings, 66% of general staff said they did. Some participants noted that they lacked the confidence to decline invitations or struggled to assess the importance of their attendance.

“This study highlights how a significant number of hours are being spent on team members attending meetings that could instead be allocated to more productive tasks,” said Belinda Lyone, Co-CEO of COS. “This not only costs the company money but can also lead to frustration.”

To tackle the issue internally, COS has introduced a series of measures to reduce meeting fatigue and create more focused work time for its 600 staff across Australia.

“We started trialling changes based on staff feedback and have gradually shaped a structure that works for us,” Lyone explained. “Of course, every organisation is different, but some of our practices might provide a helpful starting point for others.”

Solutions to Try

• Meeting-free zones: No meetings before 9.30am, between 12.30pm–1.30pm, or after 4pm, ensuring employees have uninterrupted time to focus. Thursdays are designated meeting-free entirely.

• Shorter durations: Standard meeting blocks have been reduced from 60 minutes to 45 minutes, giving staff time to regroup between sessions.

• Clear purpose: All meetings must include an agenda in advance — outlining background, purpose, and desired outcomes. A chairperson is appointed to keep the meeting on track and ensure everyone has a voice.

• Opt-out culture: Employees are encouraged to decline meetings that don’t require their input, or to nominate a suitable delegate when appropriate.

One of the more progressive policies includes avoiding cross-functional meetings during school holidays to ease the pressure on working parents.

Lyone believes this is the perfect time for business leaders to rethink their approach. “It’s not just about cutting meetings for the sake of it. It’s about empowering employees to use their time wisely and creating a workplace culture that values clarity, focus, and mutual respect,” she said.

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