Raleigh, N.C. — Aug. 31

Whether they come in the form of traffic tickets, real estate, taxes, debt, divorce or child care, personal legal issues are a common drain on workplace productivity — to the tune of three hours per week on average for employees, according to a 2011 MetLife study. Handling common legal matters usually takes several weeks, and most employees have no choice but to address the details during business hours.

A new national poll from Workplace Options, a provider of work-life programs and employee benefits, shows that U.S. workers have difficulty balancing their workload with some of life's common legal demands:

• Approximately three out of 10 individuals in the workforce (31 percent) said they have needed to take time off from their current position to deal with a legal matter.

• Of the respondents who've dealt with a legal matter, almost three-fourths (71 percent) said the situation required them to hire and consult with an attorney, which is usually only possible during the work week.

• More than one third of workers (34 percent) said it would be difficult to arrange time off of work on short notice to seek advice or legal counsel.

Decrease in Worker Productivity

According to information from U.S. News and World Report, one in five U.S. companies now offer legal assistance for their employees, down from more than one-third five years ago.

Another 2011 MetLife study found that most common legal issues faced by employees usually last between five and six weeks, with employees spending three hours per week dealing with them on average. The study also found 37 percent of men and 47 percent of women said their own personal legal issues negatively impacted their physical or emotional health, which further affects productivity in the workplace.

Having an Attorney Helps

According to this most recent Workplace Options survey, more than 70 percent of workers who have dealt with a legal issue during their tenure with a current employer said their situations required professional counsel.