It’s no secret that staying at home has become the preferred way of working for many Americans.

Over a year and a half into the pandemic, many employers and employees have learned to embrace a remote office structure and especially the freedom that comes along with it. Time previously spent sitting in traffic is replaced by cuddling with pets, or even just getting some extra sleep. Less time getting ready for the day means more time to actually focus on work: or does it?

The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes the season of shopping. Nearly one-third of workers admit that their productivity in the office stalls as they shop online during the holiday season. Whether shopping for family and friends, or just finding new ways to spend that Holiday bonus, jumping on your favorite store’s website seems extra appealing when you’re being paid to do it.

With the lack of supervision that accompanies remote work, online shopping while on the clock is a temptation that can be hard to resist. After all, Cyber Monday is the next-best-thing to Black Friday deals.

Millennials are the most at-risk for succumbing to the temptation of shopping away working hours. According to a recent national survey from Bella Ella Boutique, millennials drop the most money while shopping, spending an estimated $1,601 on clothes every year––9.4% more than the national average.

In 2018, it was found that a majority of Americans admit to online shopping while they are supposed to be working. Even more shocking, this study found that the average American spends nearly 2 hours a day online shopping while on the clock: around a quarter of their time at work!

If that was true three years ago– pre-pandemic– it seems inevitable that the number of people and work hours spent online shopping has only increased.