Executive outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas estimates that the distraction of the impeachment hearings will cost businesses about $2.1 billion an hour, Fast Company reports.
The estimate is based on the average hourly wage of $28.18, the number of Americans who use internet at work, how many Americans work during the week, and how many talk about politics in the workplace.
The firm noted a similar dip in productivity during the confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, according to the report. However, unlike the interest in the confirmation hearing, which primarily centered on the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, PhD, the impeachment hearings will likely last longer. Challenger, Gray and Christmas expects workers to lose interest over time, according to the report.
Read the full story here to see recommendations for handling employee interest in external current events.
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