BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  The Workplace  >  Why "Time Theft" Is Killing Your Team's Productivity

Why "Time Theft" Is Killing Your Team's Productivity

Dr Kenneth Cafferkey, Professor of Human Resource Management, Sunway University

15-Oct-25 11:00

Why "Time Theft" Is Killing Your Team's Productivity

The "always-on" culture, fueled by constant digital connectivity, is pushing employees toward burnout and creating a state of "two-minute productivity" that harms both people and profits. It's a problem so pervasive that a recent Microsoft study found one-third of global workers now find it "impossible to keep up."

Sunway University’s Dr. Kenneth Cafferkey, a professor specialising in high-performance work systems, joins us to unpack this modern workplace trap. 

He explains the concept of "time theft", the crucial difference between company policy and true culture, and the practical steps leaders can take to reclaim productivity and build a sustainable work environment.

We discuss:

  • The "always-on" trap and why it's an unsustainable model for businesses.

  • Time theft: how constant disruptions are killing deep work and productivity.

  • The crucial difference between company policy and true organizational culture.

  • Practical steps for managers, including implementing ring-fenced time.

  • The long-term risks of inaction, from talent flight to negative employer branding.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  the workplaceCorporatesmanaging

Tags:  employee burnoutworkplace cultureproductivitytime managementhuman resources





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) Fong Min Hun, Co-founder of Lit Books, joins us to share the story of how they run their independent book store.

12:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

(REPEAT) We review the first four episodes of Vince Gilligan’s sci-fi thriller Pluribus.

1:00 PM

Cruise Control

(REPEAT) Daniel Fernandez shares what he saw at the Guangzhou Auto Show 2025!

2:00 PM

Matt-Splained

(REPEAT) Matt and Rich explore a world where technology is "good enough."

3:00 PM

Earth Matters

(REPEAT) A festive Nature Reads episode, with all three Sunda Shelves founders sharing their favourite nature books and thoughtful Christmas gift picks.

4:00 PM

Bar None

(REPEAT) John Beasley, the Technical Director of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation joins us again ahead of the SEA Games to talk about our cyclists' preparations for the tournament.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

To tip or not to tip - That's the question that this episode of The Food Chain will be unpacking.