Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Survey Finds Employees Blurring Boundaries Between Work And Life
A survey asked more than 1,000 workers how they use their time during the workday.
Most said they sometimes handle personal tasks while working.
Doctor visits and other health matters were the most common example.
Many people also read personal emails or use social media.
Some workers plan trips, care for children, shop, or arrange household repairs during work hours.
More than half said workplaces should consider the situation instead of using strict rules.
Flexible schedules can help people manage important responsibilities without taking extra time off.
In return, workers may still check work messages while they are on holiday.
The survey suggests that work and personal time are becoming less strictly separated.
A CV.ee survey of more than 1,000 people found that 76% handle personal matters during working hours.
Doctor visits and other health-related tasks were the most common activity, reported by 74% of respondents.
Personal emails were handled by 66% of respondents, while 41% used social media during work hours.
Childcare, shopping, travel planning, and household tasks were also reported during the working day.
Some 51% said personal activities should be judged according to circumstances and workplace culture, while slightly less than half check work emails daily while on holiday.
- Who
- More than 1,000 employees surveyed by Baltic job portal CV.ee, with comments from CV.ee marketing and communications specialist Gertu Matikainen.
- What
- The survey examined how often employees handle personal matters during working hours and how they view workplace flexibility.
- When
- The survey concerns employees’ working hours and their time away from work, including holidays; no survey date is provided.
- Where
- The survey was conducted by CV.ee, a Baltic job portal; no specific location is provided.
- Why
- Employees may need to manage medical appointments, childcare, household issues, and other personal responsibilities that are difficult to fit around conventional office hours.
Flexible Work Boundaries
Strict Work-Personal Separation
Handling personal tasks during work
Flexible Work Boundaries
Employees may need flexibility for medical appointments, childcare, and household issues, and should be judged by whether they complete their professional responsibilities.
Strict Work-Personal Separation
Some employees prefer to keep professional and personal responsibilities firmly separate and rarely handle private matters during working hours.
How employers should assess conduct
Flexible Work Boundaries
The survey found that 51% believe personal activities should be assessed according to circumstances and workplace culture rather than rigid rules.
Strict Work-Personal Separation
A stricter approach treats working hours as reserved for professional responsibilities, with less overlap between work and personal life.
Reciprocal flexibility
Flexible Work Boundaries
Flexible arrangements may reduce stress and allow employees to manage personal commitments without taking additional leave, while employees remain connected to work when needed.
Strict Work-Personal Separation
Regularly checking work emails during holidays can extend work into personal time and may undermine a clear separation between work and rest.
- Survey sample
- More than 1,000 people
- Personal tasks during work
- 76% said they handle personal matters during working hours
- Most common task
- 74% reported doctor visits or other health-related matters
- Personal communication
- 66% handled personal emails; 41% used social media
- Workplace culture
- 51% said personal activities should be judged according to circumstances and organizational culture
- Work during holidays
- Slightly less than half check work emails every day while on holiday
- Other reported activities
- Travel planning or bookings: 28%; childcare and store visits: 24% each; household chores or repairs and online shopping: 22% each