Jennifer Carsen* says the holiday season can bring big losses in productivity if employees plan to do their online shopping at work.
“Workshopping” used to mean creative problem-solving and innovation, but now it has a less productive connotation: shopping online at work.
According to a new Robert Half survey, 52 per cent of employees plan to ‘workshop’ this holiday season, either from the office or using a corporate device.
Nearly half (44 per cent) of the workshoppers said their on-the-job productivity suffers due to their deal-hunting, and one-fifth said they planned to workshop for more than an hour each week.
Workshopping is particularly problematic for tech teams because it can threaten security.
In a separate Robert Half survey, 77 per cent of tech leaders said their firm allows online shopping, but the majority prefer employees to refrain because of security risks (59 per cent) and productivity losses (34 per cent).
Men were more inclined to workshop than women and working parents were more likely to do so than respondents without kids.
Employees between the ages of 25 and 40 were the most likely to workshop.
The holiday season can be difficult for employers due to increased absences and decreased engagement and productivity, but employers may be able to combat those issues by ensuring employees derive meaning from their work.
Employees who find their work meaningful are more likely to be productive year-round.
In fact, meaning is so important to employees that many would be willing to earn less for a more fulfilling job, according to a Betterup survey.
While the definition of ‘meaning’ is different for each employee, autonomy, mastery and purpose can help with motivation and drive, Joanna Parke of ThoughtWorks, previously told HR Dive, citing Daniel Pink’s book Drive.
Organisations should also figure out their ‘why’ and communicate it to employees.
Moreover, CEOs are increasingly aware that employee wellbeing is crucial for creating an engaged, loyal and productive workforce.
To this end, many wellness programs are moving beyond physical wellness to address other challenges that employees face, such as mental health and financial stability.
* Jennifer Carsen is a B2B writer, recovering employment lawyer and contributor to HR Dive.
This article first appeared at www.hrdive.com/news
