A recent study by find.com.au found that nearly 47% of the 2,085 workers surveyed admitted to online shopping during the workday. This is costing employers A$31.1 billion a year in lost productivity, up from A$23.8 billion last year.
The study noted that the online shopping is happening as work and leisure lines become more intermingled, says Bessie Hassan, money expert at Finder. Finder is Australia's biggest site for comparing more than 500 brands across 50 categories.
"Many Aussies spend a large part of their workday in front of a computer so it can be easy to deviate from their tasks, especially when you consider newsletters and targeted marketing," Hassan said. "But on the flip side, it's not uncommon to hear of some employees checking their emails at home, or answering a work phone call. Still, if you do feel like an online browse, do it within your break."