The survey also finds that slightly more workers feel it is acceptable to use their computer at work to shop for or buy holiday gifts than in 2006. Nearly one-third (32 percent) of workers agree that it is acceptable to shop online on their work computer, an increase of two percentage points from 30 percent in 2006.
"Workers' growing acceptance of online holiday shopping at work may be directly connected to the fact that a greater amount of time is being spent in the workplace," commented Brent Short, managing director of Spherion. "With more and more companies embracing the notion that the traditionally clear-cut lines between work and personal time have all but vanished, allowing workers reasonable time to do personal tasks at work may be good business practice."
According to Brent, employees should be cautious of web surfing on company time. "Workers should familiarize themselves with their company policy on Internet usage and use good judgment when doing non-business related activities. Workers who abuse this practice by spending inordinate amounts of time surfing the web at work are likely not meeting productivity or performance requirements either."
As a safeguard, employers can clearly communicate acceptable guidelines and practices for Internet activity at work to ensure their employees know the limits, Short said.
Workers aged 25 to 29 are more likely than other age groups to use their computer at work to shop for or buy gifts online during the holidays. Forty-one percent of employed adults aged 25 to 29 say they use computers at work to shop for or buy gifts online during the holidays - more than any other age group. Workers aged 18 to 24 are least likely to use computers at work to shop for or buy gifts online during the holidays, with only 19 percent stating so. However, this group is also least likely to have access to a computer at work. Females are more likely than men to spend 30 minutes or more on each online shopping occasion.
Approximately 23 percent of female workers spend 30 minutes or more on average on each occasion when shopping for or buying holiday gifts online at work, compared to only 19 percent of males. Workers earning $25,000 to $34,900 are more likely than other income groups to spend 30 minutes or more on each online shopping occasion.
One-third (33 percent) of workers earning $25,000 to $34,900 spend an average of 30 minutes or more on each online shopping occasion - significantly more than any other income category. Nearly half of workers disagree with the statement: I feel it is acceptable to use my computer at work to shop for or buy holiday gifts. The majority (46 percent) of workers disagree with the statement: I feel it is acceptable to use my computer at work to shop for or buy holiday gifts. Thirty-two percent agree with that statement, and 22 percent neither agree nor disagree.
