Employees at big companies spend an average of 38 minutes (that’s right, minutes) looking for each single document on their own computers or the company’s network, according to a survey by Reccomind, an enterprise search firm.

Why so long? The main problem is a lack of tools – just 42% of the companies surveyed have an enterprise-wide search system in place. So when employees need something, they’re forced to lose less-efficient methods, like browsing through files or calling around to request a copy.” Furthermore, the survey says that “9% of employees haven’t been briefed – either by an IT manager or legal department representative – about the role email plays in lawsuits and eDiscovery events.”

The survey notes among other things that “when looking  for documents, 71% of employees trawl the corporate network / server, 60% send an email / IM requesting to have it sent and 35% simply call someone”

Information is certainly easier to come by in smaller organizations – but their employees likely still waste a good chunk of time trying to track down documents.