Cyber Monday may be one of the biggest shopping days of the year, but it's also a major distraction for America's workforce. A new survey of full-time employees reveals just how often people are shopping online while on the clock, how much they're spending, and how they really feel about it.
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.
On average, full-time employees spend 2.4 hours online shopping during work every week. This is equivalent to 16 8-hour days wasted due to 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.
Since Cyber Monday falls on a regular workday, many employees end 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.
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 per year. Gen Z clocks the most time, averaging 3.2 hours a week, or 21 full workdays per 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 product drops 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%).
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, such as:
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 save money without adding extra stress to your workday. Using trusted tools to find reliable discounts can also make it easier to grab the best Cyber Monday deals without losing focus.
For this study, we surveyed 1,002 full-time employees about their shopping habits while at work in general 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.
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