For many Gen Z employees, working from home is synonymous with binge-watching.
A recent American study reveals that 84% of working people born between 1997 and 2012 admit to streaming movies or shows when working from home.
The Tubi platform surveyed more than 2,000 US adults aged 18 and over to find out more about their video streaming habits.
The results showed that many members of Generation Z take advantage of remote working to stream their favourite movies and shows.
More than half of them (53%) even admit to having postponed a work-related task to finish an episode or movie they’d already started.
Some justify this by explaining that they use streaming platforms as background noise for work (54%), but the line between concentration and distraction seems very thin.
For while the human brain can indeed alternate between certain simple tasks that have become more-or-less automatic, it performs poorly in multitasking mode. Walking while making a phone call is feasible. Writing an email while following a gripping storyline, much less so.
Streaming, however, is more than just a form of entertainment. For many, it has become a veritable mental outlet.
When they feel the need to disconnect for a mental break, 59% of those surveyed turn to streaming, well ahead of music (50%) or social networks (38%).
Digital escapism has clearly taken precedence over other, more traditional forms of break.
Underneath this behaviour, another conception of work is taking shape – that of a generation that embraces its need for work-life balance. Indeed, 52% of respondents are reluctant to return to the office if it means saying goodbye to these moments of daytime streaming.
So, is this just a passing phase, or a real change in the way people relate to work?
For Generation Z, streaming is not a luxury, but a way of achieving mental balance. Yet the subject remains taboo in the workplace. Nearly half of the young professionals surveyed (48%) admit to lying to their employer to conceal their viewing sessions.
Given this phenomenon, should working from home be restricted, as is now the case in some US companies? Not necessarily. Being physically present in the office does not guarantee greater engagement.
Plus, there’s nothing to stop workers from sneaking a peek at a TV show in the office. The real issue is not so much location as trust.
Establishing a lasting relationship of trust between employers and employees is crucial. Rather than increasing surveillance, managers should clarify objectives, organise regular reviews and use transparent monitoring tools. These practices not only make for better steering of missions, but also foster a feeling of greater autonomy among employees.
In fact, this trend says a lot about what Generation Z is really looking for. Binge-watching while working from home is not just about unprofessional behaviour, it’s the sign of a desire to rethink the way you work.
Be efficient, yes, but without forgetting yourself. In that sense, it can be seen as a broader expectation than the simple need for entertainment: that of a more flexible, more humane working world, more in tune with everyone’s desires.