Seven in 10 people shop online during work: maintaining productivity on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

The busiest shopping days of the year are fast approaching, with £4 billion expected to be spent in the UK alone on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as shoppers rush to grab deals in the run up to Christmas.

Although traditionally Black Friday and Cyber Monday are major US events, in recent years they have become a global phenomenon. The number of people in the UK planning to shop on these days has increased to 39%, signalling that the cost-of-living crisis is enticing people to make the most of saving money on must-have items in the run up to Christmas.

With 90% of shoppers planning to only shop online, employers could be concerned about the impact on productivity if their employers prioritise bargain hunting during working hours.

Almost seven in 10 (69%) employees admit to online shopping whilst at work, and one in four employers say they’ve fired someone for using company internet for non-work-related activity. So how should these situations be managed?

Kate Palmer, HR Advice and Consultancy Director at Peninsula says: “It’s understandable people are looking to save money on their purchases – particularly as the cost-of-living crisis is hitting wallets hard –so will be keen to take full advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

“But if an employee is spending their working hours online shopping instead of fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of their role, this is an issue.

“Shopping of any kind should only be done during designated breaks or outside working hours. For the avoidance of any doubt, it’s always best to outline your expectations in your workplace policies, especially those regarding internet usage and personal devices.

“A one-off incident can be dealt with by having a quiet word and reminding your employee of your policies, to make sure they understand the behaviours expected. But repeated offences and a proved pattern of misusing work time can result in disciplinary action, in line with normal policies and procedures.

“It might be preferable not to introduce a total ban on retail websites, instead reminding staff about expected standards of behaviour and signposting them to your policies.

“That way, they won’t feel micro-managed and will still be able to take advantage of the sales during their break-times. This is particularly important as many people will be keen to snap up bargains and savings in this economic climate.”