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Survey reveals WFH used for housework to hanky panky

Gen Y were the most likely to get frisky during work hours, with 16 per cent admitting to it in the past year.

People working from home are engaging in everything from housework to hanky panky on company time, according to new research by Finder.

Comparison site Finder’s survey of 1004 respondents revealed 2 in 5 (39 per cent) have done something controversial when working from home.

Nearly 1 in 10 Aussies (9 per cent) admit to getting intimate with a partner while working from home.

Many are mixing personal life with work – 1 in 5 (20 per cent) do household chores on the clock, 18 per cent watch movies, 13 per cent nap, and 12 per cent juggle childcare responsibilities.

Almost 1 in 10 (9 per cent) have even job-hunted during work hours, while 7 per cent have snuck off for a surf or a round of golf.

A further 6 per cent confessed to working a second job while working from home.

Gen Y were the most likely to get frisky during work hours, with 16 per cent admitting to it in the past year.

Taylor Blackburn, personal finance expert at Finder, said this might have something to do with organisations urging workers to return to the office.

“Intimate time at home would not be what most employers mean when they allow flexible work for increased productivity.

“Hybrid and remote working has had a huge impact on work life balance, but some are taking that to the extremes.

“Most salaried employees aren’t confined to working 9-5, and often life – or in some cases creating life – gets in the way.

“Most people use flexible work to balance family and life admin, but a surprising number are pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable during office hours.”

Blackburn said these figures show why some bosses are eager to get workers back in the office.

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One Response to Survey reveals WFH used for housework to hanky panky

Jim says: 17 November 2025 at 12:16 pm

What an utterly nonsense and pointless survey. Without context of whether people are working the hours they should (despite what in between activities they may undertake), its just a pointless jibe at WFH. Like everything, most people do the right thing and there are vast benefits to society from not forcing people to be in massive office buildings when they don’t need to be.

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