Holiday Cheer Likely to Include Holiday Work

The survey found 71% of workers whose jobs regularly require the use of e-mail and voicemail plan to stay connected to the workplace this holiday season.  But don’t think that the American workforce has a new-found dedication to their jobs – nearly half  of respondents (46%) plan to make a dent in their holiday shopping during work hours — either through online shopping, shopping on lunch breaks, taking sick days or cutting out a little early.  

According to a press release, the survey found that among working Americans who rely on e-mail and voicemail for their job, 80% of men will  likely check work voicemail or e-mail on the actual day of celebration, while 60% of women plan to do so. Similarly, those with children in their household (77%) are more likely to check work voicemail or e-mail on holidays than are households without children (65%).   

Americans who live in the Western part of the U.S. (20%) are more likely to do holiday shopping online at work than are other U.S. residents (10%). In addition, those who live in Metro areas (16%) are more likely to do holiday shopping online at work compared to those in non-Metro areas (7%).   

Other survey results include: 

• Despite the economy, 36% of employees think their companies’ holiday parties will be similar to those from past years.  
• One in ten (11%) Americans work for companies that held a holiday party last year and plan to hold one again this year — just on a smaller scale.  
• A third of Americans polled are employed by a company that has never held a holiday party. 
• Women (28%) are slightly more likely than men (21%) to have taken a holiday job specifically for spending cash for holiday gifts. 

The survey was conducted via telephone within the United States by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Adecco from November 11 – November 14, 2010, among 1,011 employed American adults ages 18 and older.