Final answer:
Employees likely spend a notable amount of time chasing coworkers for updates due to expectations of being responsive, with the average US worker spending 42-54 hours per week working and technology blurring work-life boundaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
How much time people spend chasing coworkers for updates is not easily quantified, as it varies widely by industry, company culture, and individual work habits. However, we can infer that this activity consumes a significant portion of employee time, given the context of modern work environments.
The increase in expectations for being responsive due to technology such as 24/7 email and cell phones has blurred the boundaries between work and personal life, leading to a constant need for updates and communication. Workers today are burdened with the need to be constantly available, which in turn may lead to spending considerable amounts of time seeking information and status updates from colleagues.
Moreover, in the context of the United States, workers spend an average of 42-54 hours per week working, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With such a significant chunk of time dedicated to work, combined with the expectation of immediate communication, there is a likely increase in time spent chasing coworkers for updates. Additionally, the reliance on devices, as noted by Smith (2012), has made it difficult for many to disconnect from work and prevent it from spilling into personal time. These facts point to an environment where constantly contacting coworkers for updates is a common and perhaps time-consuming part of many employees' workdays.