Benefits November 16, 2000

Lines Between Home, Work Blur

November 16, 2000 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Employees are increasingly "giving" at the office - and then some, according to a new report. Forty percent put in overtime or take work home at least once a week.
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On the other hand, a comparable 36% are taking care of personal business on a daily basis at work, according to the November 2000 Xylo Report: Shifts in Work and Home Life Boundaries, conducted by opinion research firm Wirthlin Worldwide.

The study also found that:

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  • 17% put in overtime or take work home with them every day
  • 15% put in overtime or take work home with them two to three times per week
  • 8% work beyond their scheduled hours once each week

The study also found significant gender/income differences in overtime behaviors, with 19% of men reported working overtime every day compared to 14% of women. Those making $30,000 to $60,000/year are three times more likely to work extra hours every day than those making less than $30,000.

Roughly a third (36%) take care of personal responsibilities on a daily basis while at work, while 18% do so two to three times each week, 10% do once a week, and 11% just one or two times a month.

Workers who take care of personal tasks on the job every day spend an average of 1.35 hours each day doing so.

Home “Work”

Respondents mentioned several personal responsibilities they take care of at work:

  • 34% – banking/bill paying
  • 16% – childcare
  • 12% – grocery shopping
  • 12% – medical research
  • 7% – making appointments
  • 7% – personal shopping
  • 6% – phone calls
  • 5% – gift buying
  • 3% – personal travel planning
  • 3% – personal entertainment planning
  • 1% – eldercare

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