Nearly one-quarter of telecommuters spend at least an hour shopping online while on the clock, survey finds

WHITING, Ind. — People who work from home shop online more often, according to a new survey.

Conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin, the survey found 69% of adults working from home shop online while on the clock, compared with 54% who do the same when working in an office. The online survey polled 2,047 adults between March 12-14, including 273 who work from home.

"Online shopping is one of the many interruptions that can lure workers away from their tasks, whether they're at home or at their workplace," CouponCabin senior savings adviser Jackie Warrick said. "While taking a break now and then is necessary to remain productive, it's important for workers to manage their time effectively and contribute to the success of their organization."

Of those who ever work from home, 24% spend an hour or more shopping online in an average week of telecommuting, compared with 13% who do the same when at their workplace. One reason is that 47% say they feel less likely to be caught shopping online when they telecommute.