The majority of millennials confessed that they “do other things” during their home office hours

The survey showed that the 92% of all respondents They admitted to doing something that wasn’t work during their home office time. However, there was one generation that stood out above all the others: the millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).

In this sense, watching television, cooking, doing housework and even sleeping were the tasks most performed during work hours. According to human resources strategist and organizational psychologist, Etty Burk, “Flexibility has become a crucial element so that both companies and employees prosper.

Between the home office and leisure

The survey carried out by the Talker Research company revealed that millennials were the generation that most admitted to performing other tasks during their working hours, 55% confessed to watching television during work hours. But that’s not all: there are also those they cook (57%), they do the housework (45%) and they even take a nap (39%).

Compared to other generations, only the 26% of generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) admitted to taking a nap while working, and the 38% of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) pleaded guilty to this habit.

The generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) were the most likely to say they did not do any of the non-work-related activities highlighted in the survey, with 13% percent selecting “none of the above“.

It’s not all about catching up on sleep. Nearly a third of millennials admitted that they shop online while they work. Despite leisure, a 34% said they juggle childcare along with his work.

This flexibility is, for many companies, a positive thing. Dima Eremin, CEO of BluedotHQ, an AI-powered Google Meet note-taking service, sees it as a sign of a healthy balance between work and personal life.

“I don’t care that my employees run errands during work hours as long as it does not negatively affect your results“said Eremin. “Remote work offers flexibility and Happier employees tend to be more productive”.

The negative side of the home office

Since the pandemic, remote work has expanded around the world and millions of people are enjoying its benefits. However, Not everyone is convinced that it is a positive way of working.

Renante Altarproject manager at e-commerce company Creloaded, said: “There is something that cannot be replaced in the energy of having everyone in the same room” and then added: “In an office, ideas flow naturally and projects move faster. When people work from home, They get distracted by personal things and we have had missed deadlines because of that.”.

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For some employers, the home office is a constant source of distractions.

However, the survey highlighted that millennials seem to have completely adapted to the combination of work and life. In addition to the more casual perks of working from home, they also take time to meet up with friends (18%) or work a second job (16%), all while managing their main job.

“While there used to be a strict line between work and personal time, remote work has made flexibility necessary,” Burk explained. “If employees meet deadlines and do their jobs, allowing them to take care of personal tasks during the day can help reduce stress and improve overall productivity“.

“It’s about focusing on results, not only in the recorded hours. Of course, clear expectations and communication are key, but giving a little autonomy shows trust and helps make remote work more sustainable for everyone,” said the psychologist.