These projects are more than an administrative nuisance, they can shape how UK workers feel about their jobs. In fact, 28 % say that zombie projects reduce job satisfaction and morale.

Nearly a third( 30 %) feel these projects cause stress and overwhelm, while 29 % say that zombie projects are actively reducing their productivity.

And the impact extends to team collaboration and dynamics as 28 % of respondents say that zombie projects contribute to team burnout, and the same percentage say they take up valuable team resources.

This stalled work piles on top of an already broken information environment. Atlassian’ s annual State of Teams report found that global workers in Fortune 500 enterprises waste the equivalent of 2.4 billion hours a year – about 27 % of their work week – just searching for information.

• Thirty percent fear there will be a negative perception if they decide to retire a project

• Thirty-two percent say there is a lack of clarity over whether they’ re even allowed to make that decision

For many, that uncertainty means it feels safer to keep projects shambling on than to have an honest conversation about what should be stopped. Over time, that can leave teams feeling stuck in a never ending loop of low impact work.

AI could finally bury dead projects

The study uncovers a clear solution for reviewing and triaging zombie projects that are holding workers back: Artificial Intelligence. Half of respondents( 50 %) believe that AI, in the form of an AI teammate embedded into their everyday tools, could help them decide which projects to revive and which to retire, helping start the new year faster and more focused.

Beyond triaging work, UK workers think AI can help overcome new year challenges:

• Thirty-five percent say AI could help by summarising what they have missed away from work

• Thirty-one percent believe AI could turn a messy inbox into a prioritised restart plan

• Thirty percent believe that it could assist them by creating realistic time estimates based on calendar load

“ The start of the year shouldn’ t be haunted by the ghosts of past projects,’ says Sven Peters, AI Evangelist at Atlassian.‘ The January reset offers a unique opportunity to start fresh. It’ s essential to give teams the clarity and cultural permission to retire what doesn’ t serve them, so they can channel their energy into the work that really matters.” x

For UK knowledge workers with inboxes full and priorities unclear, that combination of‘ digital hide and seek’ and zombie projects can make even a good role feel unsustainable.

Why are these projects persisting?

The study suggests that culture and clarity are major blockers. UK workers often don’ t know who has the authority to call time on a project, or when it’ s acceptable to do so:

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