Shopping Online: Work's Guilty Pleasure?

MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With holiday deals starting earlier each year, the temptation to act on them – even while at the office – is great.  And the ability to bag up bargains on company time is growing, a new Robert Half Technology survey shows:  One-quarter of chief information officers (CIOs)   said their firms allow unrestricted access to shopping sites. Another 48 percent said their companies allow access but monitor activity for excessive use. Only a quarter (25 percent) of CIOs said their firms block access to online shopping sites – down eight percent from 2012.

View an infographic of the survey findings.

Although online shopping seems par for the course in most workplaces, not all employees go about it with a clear conscience: 30 percent of professionals feel guilty about bargain hunting during work hours; a similar percentage (28 percent) believe their coworkers are not pulling their weight when they shop on company time.  Managers may be slightly more lenient in their views.  Among 24 percent of workers who admitted to being caught by the boss while shopping online, only 15 percent were reprimanded for their deal-seeking ways.  That compares to 31 percent who ended up "talking shop" with their managers in a positive interaction.  Roughly one in five (19 percent) workers said they are more productive when they shop online because they don't have to leave the office.

The survey of CIOs asked: "Which one of the following best describes your company's policy regarding employees shopping online while at work?" Their responses:

"Many professionals appreciate the ability to get some quick online shopping done at work during the busy holiday season," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. "But employees should recognize that most companies keep tabs on their online activity.  Professionals should follow safe and secure browsing practices, and keep distractions at work to a minimum."

About the Research

The surveys were developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by independent research firms. They include responses from more than 2,500 CIOs in 25 metropolitan areas and more than 1,000 U.S. workers 18 years or older and employed in office environments.

About Robert Half Technology

With more than 120 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 rht.com. Follow Robert Half Technology at twitter.com/RobertHalfTech or visit our technology blog at blog.rht.com.

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SOURCE Robert Half Technology

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