Despite the advent of instant messaging at work and the hundreds of emails received by the average employee every day, American workers still prefer classic electronic mail, a recent survey shows. Fundera, a financial services firm for small businesses, looked into how communication at work could be more productive by understanding what people really think about email. Based on a survey of 1000 workers, here's what Fundera found:

Americans still prefer email...

Email takes up nearly a quarter of the average American employee's workday, but it's still the preferred method of communicating with others. Workplace expert Leigh Stringer tells CNBC Make It that when email is used effectively, like for setting up meetings or communicating action-oriented requests, it simplifies your life. After email, the next most preferred way of communicating is through in-person conversations. Fundera found that how much you prefer a certain type of communication also depends on your industry.

...but worry about their tone