Over Half Of Tech Leaders Don't Want Staff To Shop Online At Work, But 64 Percent Of Employees Plan On "Workshopping" This Holiday Season

MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "Workshoppers" — employees who shop online from the office using corporate devices — are rampant in the office, new research shows. According to a survey by staffing firm Robert Half Technology, nearly two-thirds of professionals said they plan to shop online from work this holiday season.

But are employers OK with it? Over half (53 percent) of technology decision makers said they prefer employees refrain from shopping online during business hours or using a company device, even though 76 percent said their company policy allows for it. Security risks (59 percent) and loss of productivity (35 percent) are the top concerns among tech leaders of staff using company devices for personal purchases.

View an infographic to see tech leaders' opinions and workers' plans around "workshopping" this holiday season.

"Technology leaders are constantly assessing risks, and now is a great time to reaffirm company policies and best practices with teams," said Ryan Sutton, a district president for Robert Half Technology.

Online Shopping Habits at Work 
Nearly two-thirds of employees (64 percent) said they plan to make online purchases from the office this season. When asked how often they expect to shop while on the clock, here's how they responded:

-   Only on Cyber Monday: 20 percent
-   Once a week: 35 percent
-   A few times per week: 36 percent 
-   Nearly every day until they finish their lists: 8 percent

Here are the top 10 cities with the most "workshoppers" planning to snag online deals a few times a week during the holidays:

1. Los Angeles (56 percent)
2. Nashville (47 percent)
3. Pittsburgh (47 percent)
4. Salt Lake City (47 percent)
5. St. Louis (45 percent)
6. Denver (44 percent)
7. Minneapolis (44 percent)
8. Boston (39 percent)
9. Detroit (39 percent)
10. Des Moines (39 percent)

Sutton added, "It's inevitable that some employees will use work devices for personal reasons, but with proper guidance on safe browsing practices and implementation of strong security systems, risks can be mitigated."

Survey Methodology
The online survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by a leading independent research firm. The report is based on responses from more than 2,800 workers and more than 2,500 IT decision makers in 28 major U.S. markets. All IT respondents were screened to have hiring authority for the information systems or information technology department of a company.

About Robert Half Technology
With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at roberthalf.com/technology. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2019 Salary Guide.

SOURCE Robert Half Technology