How Much Online Shopping Happens at Work, Especially on Cyber Monday? — worth reading first

With over half of workers planning to browse deals during work hours, it's clear that productivity isn't the only thing on their minds this holiday season.

Key Takeaways

• On average, full-time employees spend 2.4 hours online shopping during work every week. This is equivalent to 16 8-hour days wasted because of online shopping every year.

• 31% of employees admit to having shopped online during a work meeting.

• Nearly 1 in 4 employees (24%) have been caught online shopping by a manager or coworker during work hours.

• 3 in 5 full-time employees plan to shop Cyber Monday deals while working this year.

• On average, employees plan to spend $214 while shopping on Cyber Monday during work, and 14% plan to spend $500 or more.

Cyber Monday Shoppers Are Showing Up at Work

Since Cyber Monday falls on a regular workday, many employees wind up browsing deals while they work. How people feel about that depends a lot on their age, work style, and comfort level with multitasking.

• 3 in 5 full-time employees said they'll be shopping Cyber Monday deals during work hours.

• A majority (68%) think that's totally fine, especially Gen Z (71%) and millennials (70%).

• Most employees (75%) think Cyber Monday shopping doesn't affect their productivity at work. However, Gen Z workers are the most likely to feel distracted, with 27% saying it impacts their output.

• On average, employees expect to spend $214 while shopping at work, and 14% plan to spend over $500. Millennials are expected to spend the most ($229), and men plan to spend more than women ($238 vs. $185).

• Despite all the time spent deal-hunting, 88% said they've never regretted it.

Shopping on the Clock Is a Year-Round Habit

Online shopping during work hours isn't limited to Cyber Monday. For many employees, browsing and buying habits have quietly become part of their weekly routine.

• Full-time employees spend 2.4 hours per week shopping online at work—equal to 16 full workdays each year. Gen Z clocks the most time, averaging 3.2 hours a week, or 21 full workdays each year.

• Nearly a third (31%) admit to shopping during work meetings. Gen Z (38%) and remote workers (40%) are the most likely to do so.

• Nearly half (45%) have shopped or waited in line for timed, exclusive item drops and travel deals while at work.

• Gen Z (51%) and millennials (48%) are the most active deal-chasers during work hours.

• Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) have been caught shopping online by a coworker or manager, especially hybrid and on-site employees (29%), compared to remote workers (8%).

• 70% of employees don't feel guilty about shopping at work because "everyone does it." Gen Z is the most likely to feel some guilt (20%).

Tips To Shop Cyber Monday Deals Without Losing Focus at Work

Cyber Monday can be exciting, but it can also be distracting if you're trying to keep up with both deals and deadlines. A few simple habits can help you score great prices without letting shopping take over your entire workday, like:

• Making a quick list of the items you actually want before the workday starts

• Setting a timer to check deals during breaks

• Use wishlist or cart features ahead of time so you can check out quickly

A little planning can help you spend less without adding extra stress to your workday. Applying trusted tools to find reliable discounts can also make it easier to grab the best Cyber Monday deals without losing focus.

Methodology

For this study, we surveyed 1,002 full-time employees about their shopping habits while at work broadly and for Cyber Monday this year. Gender-wise, 52% of respondents identified as male, 47% identified as female, and 1% identified as nonbinary or gender nonconforming. Generationally, the group consisted of 61% millennials, 25% Gen X, 11% Gen Z, and 3% baby boomers. Work environment-wise, 41% worked on-site, 32% worked hybrid, and 27% worked remotely.

Topics Black Friday