Technopolis Oyj
Technopolis Oyj
09/12/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/12/2024 23:44
What Finns actually do when working from home
12.9.2024
What Finns actually do when working from home
Have you always suspected that your colleagues do something other than work during working hours at their home office? Or have you perhaps felt guilty about doing the same yourself? Now, we have some clarity on the matter.
A survey commissioned by workspace expert Technopolis in the spring of 2024 reveals what Finns admit to doing in their home office when they were supposed to be working. On top of the list is doing the laundry, which almost half (47%) of the survey respondents said they have done during working hours.
Other popular activities during working hours include cleaning (37%), pretending to work (19%), watching television (18%), and sleeping (12%). Only a third (32%) of the survey respondents in Finland said that they had done none of the above while working from home.
According to the survey, younger employees are more inclined to spend their working hours on other tasks than work, or at least more willing to reveal doing so. For example, over half of the employees aged 20-34 said they have cleaned their home during working hours. For employees over 50, the corresponding figure was less than half of that (25%). The results were similar for watching television during working hours: 28% for employees aged 20-34, and only 14% for employees over 50.
However, rather than intentionally avoiding work, employees may take on other tasks during working hours because they feel the need for breaks.
"It is important to take breaks, also when working remotely. In the office, employees naturally take breaks by getting coffee or chatting with colleagues. Similarly, in a home office, doing tasks like filling the washing machine or light cleaning can break up the workday and help maintain energy levels," says Jaana von Bell, Concept Manager for Workspace and Customer Solutions at Technopolis.
The most popular activities Finns do at the home office:
- Doing the laundry: 47%
- Cleaning: 37%
- Pretending to work: 19%
- Watching television: 18%
- Sleeping: 12%
Sampling and implementation of the survey:
The survey commissioned by Technopolis was implemented using YouGov's Omnibus online panel in February-March 2024. A total of 1,004 Finns responded to the survey, 55% of whom work in an open-plan office. The sample is a nationally representative sample of adult office workers in terms of age, gender, and region of residence. A comparable survey was also conducted in Sweden and Norway.