Working Under Distractions

Yang Zhong
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Yang Zhong: University of Warwick

CAGE Online Working Paper Series from Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE)

Abstract: Distractions are pervasive in modern workplaces, from frequent interruptions to noisy open-plan offices. Using an incentivized laboratory experiment, I study performance and well-being under task-switching and auditory distractions, elicit willingness to pay to avoid them, and develop a survey measure of distraction resilience that captures individuals' willingness and ability to work under distractions. Neither distraction significantly reduces performance, but both reduce well-being. Participants are willing to pay to avoid distractions, with those experiencing lower well-being under distractions willing to pay more. I find no gender differences in the effects on performance or well-being, although women are willing to pay less than men to avoid both distractions. I validate the survey measure of distraction resilience by showing that those scoring higher experience better well-being under both distractions. I then incorporate the validated measure in a representative Dutch panel and find that greater distraction resilience is related to higher income, a greater likelihood of holding a supervisory position, and higher job satisfaction.

Keywords: refugee children; schools; integration; educational attainment; contraceptives JEL Classification: I24; I21; J13; J15; O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dcm, nep-exp and nep-hrm
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cge:wacage:827

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