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Research

SurveyMonkey research: workers’ holiday plans

Four in ten workers (38%) working between Christmas and New Years say it will be business as usual

Among workers who plan on working between Christmas and New Years, one in four (24%) expect to be busier than usual, while an equal percentage are split between working regular days (38%) or experiencing a slowdown in work (38%). Within the 38% who expect a slower work week:

  • 11% say they plan on just clocking in but not doing anything due to a lack of work that week
  • 13% plan on taking advantage of slower work days to wrap up projects or prepare for 2025
  • 14% plan on mostly checking emails and messages.

Hybrid or remote workers are more likely to see a slower work week between Christmas and New Years: 59% of remote workers and 57% of hybrid workers will be less busy than usual, more than double the number of in-person workers (27%). In-person workers are also more likely to say their work will be busier than usual (28% vs. 14% for remote and 15% for hybrid workers).

Four in ten workers plan to get ahead of holiday preparation while at work (43%), a pattern consistent among hybrid (46%), in-person (42%), and remote workers (45%). Overall,

  • One in four plan on shopping for last-minute gifts (24%).
  • 18% plan on decorating
  • 17% plan on wrapping presents
  • 13% plan on baking
  • 13% plan on sending holiday cards

A similar percentage of remote workers have plans to take care of holiday prep work while at work (45% vs. 46% for hybrid and 42% for in-person). Those who plan to do so are more likely to spend time prepping for the holidays:

  • 23% of remote workers plan on wrapping presents, compared to 17% of in-person workers and 13% of hybrid workers
  • 18% plan on baking, compared to 13% of hybrid or in-person workers
  • 20% plan on sending holiday cards, compared to 11% of in-person workers and 12% of hybrid workers

Binge watching TV and cleaning routines top work housekeeping activities among workers

About one in six workers (15%) plan on binge watching TV during slower work days around the holidays, followed by cleaning their office (13%), and cleaning out email (12%).

Hybrid and remote workers are more likely to spend time cleaning their workspace (19% and 18%, respectively, compared to 11% for in person).

In-person workers are more likely to binge watch TV (17%) compared to remote (12%) or hybrid workers (9%).