Work, Chores, And Gift Returns: Nearly Half Of Hybrid Workers Confess To Multitasking

• Remote and hybrid workers often multitask during work hours, blending personal activities with professional tasks in a flexible hybrid or remote environment, new study confirms. 
• Younger workers are redefining work-life balance and loyalty, with many opting for “quiet vacations” and prioritizing mental health days. 
• Companies are increasingly adopting structured hybrid work models, negotiating between remote flexibility and in-office mandates amid evolving attitudes toward productivity and collaboration.

Scrolling through Instagram, checking on your Etsy side hustle, and powering through your day job — in today’s world, it’s all possible at once, and let’s be honest, it often is an everyday thing. 

If you’re adding more than work to your workday, you’re not alone: nearly half of hybrid and remote workers openly admit to multitasking during work hours.

As remote work progresses, many employees are taking advantage of newfound flexibility, often blurring the lines between work and personal activities.

Multitasking During Work Hours: The New Normal?

According to Survey Monkey, 46% of hybrid or remote workers openly confess to multitasking during work calls. 

Whether it’s completing household chores, running errands, or even sneaking in a nap, many employees are using their flexible schedules to juggle personal tasks with professional obligations. 

For example, 46% of workers admitted to doing housework during work hours, and 33% took care of errands outside the home.

The trend extends to video calls as well, with 29% of workers confessing to using the bathroom during work meetings, 21% browsing social media, and 14% engaging in online shopping. 

These activities may raise eyebrows, and they highlight the growing tension between work responsibilities and personal autonomy in a remote or hybrid environment.

A New Era of Work-Life Boundaries?

The new survey also touches on the growing difficulty employees face when it comes to managing boundaries between their work and personal lives. More than a quarter of workers (28%) report being asked to work while on vacation, and 54% admitted to checking work emails during time off. 

These habits are particularly prevalent among younger generations, with Gen Z and Millennial workers leading the way in redefining what it means to “disconnect.”

One in three remote workers have taken “quiet vacations,” where they continue working without officially taking time off or notifying their employers. 

This trend is part of a broader movement among younger workers who are seeking to strike a balance between professional demands and personal well-being.

Structured Hybrid Model vs. Full-Time Office

While these findings expose remote workers’ habits, they also show a broader trend in how companies are adapting their work models. 

In the past quarter, structured hybrid work models have grown in popularity, with 43% of U.S. firms now adopting this model, up from 20% earlier in 2023. 

A structured hybrid model means employees have some flexibility in working from home but are expected to spend a certain amount of time in the office.

Meanwhile, full-time in-office mandates are making a comeback, especially at large firms. This trend has led to rising tensions over return-to-office (RTO) policies, with 48% of remote workers claiming that RTO mandates are about micromanaging, rather than improving productivity or fostering employee engagement.

Interestingly, in-person workers tend to support RTO plans more strongly. 

A majority (62%) believe these policies are designed to improve productivity, while half (52%) see RTO as a way to enhance team collaboration and creativity.

Young Workers Redefining Loyalty and Work-Life Balance

Another notable trend from the report is the evolving attitudes of younger workers toward work-life balance and loyalty to employers. 

Gen Z and Millennial workers are more likely to take “mental health days” or use sick leave for personal reasons, with 36% of Gen Z and Millennial workers using sick time for mental health purposes. 

Moreover, many younger workers view frequent job-switching as a way to advance their careers, with 41% of Gen Z workers favoring shorter tenures of four years or less at a company.

This contrasts sharply with older generations, like Gen X and Baby Boomers, who tend to stay longer at the same company and value stability.

The Future of Remote Work

While multitasking and “quiet vacations” may be a sign of remote workers taking advantage of their flexibility, the rise of structured hybrid models indicates that the workplace is still unfolding and refining. 

Companies are grappling with how to balance employee autonomy with business needs, especially as return-to-office policies resurface.

But one thing is clear: the desire for flexibility — whether it’s through hybrid models, working from home, or creating personal boundaries — is not going away anytime soon.