Some planning to call in sick to shop seasonal sales: survey
With Black Friday upon us, many employees are shopping for deals during work hours.
A new survey from ResumeTemplates.com found that 70% of full-time U.S. workers plan to shop on Black Friday, with 84% of them admitting they will do so while on the clock.
Many workers plan to adjust their schedules, with some blocking off calendars, delaying deadlines, or canceling meetings to focus on snagging discounts. In addition, 18% said they might call in sick, while 31% who don’t usually work remotely plan to stay home for easier access to online sales.
"Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer some of the best deals. Some employees will spend significant portions of their workday hunting for bargains, which can understandably create challenges for workplace productivity,” said Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist at ResumeTemplates.com.
Shopping durations vary widely, with 43% of respondents expecting to spend 1 to 3 hours shopping during work hours. Smaller groups reported plans to spend:
Only 16% of workers said they would refrain from shopping during Black Friday work hours altogether, found the survey.
Spending patterns are also a key takeaway from the survey. While 12% of workers said they plan to spend more than a week’s pay, 32% expect to spend more this year compared to previous years.
Among those increasing their budgets, 31% attributed the rise to inflation, while 17% pointed to planned tariffs.
