Aussie office workers risk unfinished projects for 2025

A recent Atlassian study reveals that many Australian office workers struggle to complete projects before the end of the year. They often postpone tasks to the following year and never resume them.

The research highlights that 72% of Australian office workers expect to end the year with incomplete tasks. Among these projects, one in five is likely to be pushed to 2025, with up to 29% of such tasks potentially never seeing completion. This statistic signals a notable trend of unfinished business that riddles the calendar year's end.

Atlassian's findings also highlight a "confidence gap" concerning the ability to pick up on delayed projects. Fewer than one-third (31%) of participants felt assured that they could easily resume their postponed projects in the new year. This lack of confidence may further compound the cycle of unfinished work.

On the causes of delays and unfinished work, the survey found that unexpected challenges or shifting priorities and goals are cited by 52% of respondents as primary reasons for incomplete projects before the holiday break. This indicates significant hurdles in maintaining momentum as the year ends.

Furthermore, by mid-December, 70% of workers anticipate having either completed their tasks or moved them into the following year. This timeframe marks a critical point in the work calendar for many employees aiming to wrap up activities before the holiday period.

Reflecting on the outcomes, the research discusses why many Australians find it arduous to return to shelved projects. About 18% of respondents working with companies sized between 50 and 249 employees report difficulties in collaborating on postponed tasks due to diminishing impetus and spirit.

To combat the issue of circling back to unfinished projects, Atlassian suggests several strategies: being stringent with scheduling, eliminating tasks that do not progress goals significantly, and adopting asynchronous communication methods. Such approaches could include sending emails or video messages or engaging through collaborative platforms like Slack or Confluence.

The company also recommends capturing the context of projects before the holiday break to provide clarity when returning after the holidays. These strategies aim to mitigate the effects of the "circle back" phenomenon and promote intentionality at the start of the new year.