Before we get going, let’s promise to be honest with one another. No lies, no deception, no need to hide. You know what it’s like to work from home with a TV series, YouTube, or radio on.
It’s better than the office: you can chill out, take a little 5-minute break, close your eyes, or rest your head on the back of the wall. Nobody is watching you, and your ZOOM microphone is muted. Yes, keep nodding your head as you read these words, we’re all being honest here.
Of course, I’d never know what any of that feels like, but I can imagine that you have fun doing it.
It turns out that Gen-Z know best. In a new study published by streaming TV service Tubi, Gen Z workers admit they’ve been streaming TV shows and movies during their workdays at home and around half of them lie to their bosses about it.
A whopping 53% of Gen Z survey takers admitted that they’ve put off work to finish a show they’re binge-watching, according to the survey that composed the answers of more than 2,500 adults. What’s more, over half of the youngsters polled admitted to being hesitant to return to the office as they’ll lose their streaming time.
There are plenty of arguments, both for and against, when it comes to WFH, with some bosses more concerned than others about productivity. Cynthia Clevenger, senior vice president of B2B marketing at Tubi, told Fortune “as hybrid-work models continue to be the norm, the boundary between work and entertainment becomes more fluid across the board. It’s not just passive background noise—it’s part of how they take breaks, stay stimulated, or even manage their focus throughout the day.”
“For many, having a show, podcast, or music in the background isn’t a distraction—it’s a form of body doubling that enhances focus,” thinks Simran Bhatia, head of people operations at deepfake-detection company Reality Defender, who defended the youth. “Instead of policing this, progressive employers should consider how to design work environments—in-office or remote—that reflect how this generation optimally functions. Each generation has brought a shift in workplace culture, and Gen Z is no exception.”