FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest Spherion(R) Workplace Snapshot survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R), nearly one-third (30 percent) of workers use their computer at work to shop for or buy gifts online during the holidays, up from 27 percent in 2006. The survey also finds that workers are spending less time, on average, to do so. Nearly half (46 percent) of workers spend less than 15 minutes on each occasion when shopping for or buying holiday gifts online at work, compared to only 33 percent last year. However, when it comes to gender, most females (59 percent) spend more than 15 minutes on each occasion when shopping, compared to most males (52 percent) who spend under 15 minutes.

The survey also finds that slightly more workers feel it is acceptable to use their computer at work to shop for or buy holiday gifts than in 2006. Nearly one-third (32 percent) of workers agree that it is acceptable to shop online on their work computer, an increase of two percentage points from 30 percent in 2006.

"Workers' growing acceptance of online holiday shopping at work may be directly connected to the fact that a greater amount of time is being spent in the workplace," commented Brent Short, managing director of Spherion. "With more and more companies embracing the notion that the traditionally clear-cut lines between work and personal time have all but vanished, allowing workers reasonable time to do personal tasks at work may be good business practice."

According to Brent, employees should be cautious of web surfing on company time. "Workers should familiarize themselves with their company policy on Internet usage and use good judgment when doing non-business related activities. Workers who abuse this practice by spending inordinate amounts of time surfing the web at work are likely not meeting productivity or performance requirements either."

As a safeguard, employers can clearly communicate acceptable guidelines and practices for Internet activity at work to ensure their employees know the limits, Short said.

Other results from the most recent Spherion Workplace Snapshot Survey:

Workers aged 25 to 29 are more likely than other age groups to use their computer at work to shop for or buy gifts online during the holidays.

-- Forty-one percent of employed adults aged 25 to 29 say they use computers at work to shop for or buy gifts online during the holidays -- more than any other age group. -- Workers aged 18 to 24 are least likely to use computers at work to shop for or buy gifts online during the holidays, with only 19 percent stating so. However, this group is also least likely to have access to a computer at work.

Females are more likely than men to spend 30 minutes or more on each online shopping occasion.

-- Approximately 23 percent of female workers spend 30 minutes or more on average on each occasion when shopping for or buying holiday gifts online at work, compared to only 19 percent of males.

Workers earning $25,000 to $34,900 are more likely than other income groups to spend 30 minutes or more on each online shopping occasion.

-- One-third (33 percent) of workers earning $25,000 to $34,900 spend an average of 30 minutes or more on each online shopping occasion -- significantly more than any other income category.

Nearly half of workers disagree with the statement: I feel it is acceptable to use my computer at work to shop for or buy holiday gifts.

-- The majority (46 percent) of workers disagree with the statement: I feel it is acceptable to use my computer at work to shop for or buy holiday gifts. -- Thirty-two percent agree with that statement, and 22 percent neither agree nor disagree. Methodology

The November 2007 Spherion(R) Workplace Snapshot is based on data from the Harris Interactive(R) QuickQuery(SM) online omnibus conducted monthly by Harris Interactive on behalf of Spherion Corporation. A U.S. sample of 1,555 employed adults, aged 18 years and older, was interviewed in a poll conducted November 6-8, 2007. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education and region were weighted where necessary to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting adjusted for respondents' propensity to be online. The data have also been weighted to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult computer user population on the basis of computer usage (hours per week).

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 1,555 U.S. employed adults one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- three percentage points. However, that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Spherion

Spherion Corporation is a leading recruiting and staffing company that provides integrated solutions to meet the evolving needs of companies and job candidates. As an industry pioneer for more than 60 years, Spherion has sourced, screened and placed millions of individuals in temporary, temp-to- hire and full-time jobs. Positions range from administrative and light industrial to a host of professions that include accounting/finance, information technology, engineering, manufacturing, legal, human resources and sales/marketing.

With approximately 700 locations in the United States and Canada, Spherion delivers innovative workforce solutions that improve business performance. Spherion provides its services to more than 8,000 customers, from Fortune 500 companies to a wide range of small and mid-size organizations. Employing more than 300,000 people annually through its network, Spherion is one of North America's largest employers. To learn more, visit http://www.spherion.com/. For up- to-date career tips and trends, visit Spherion's career blog, The Big Time(SM), at http://www.spherion.com/careerblog.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and one of the fastest-growing market research firms in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its North American, European and Asian offices, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://www.harrispollonline.com/.

CONTACT: Lesly Baer of Spherion Corporation, +1-800-422-3819,
leslybaer@spherion.com

Web site: http://www.spherion.com/
http://www.spherion.com/careerblog
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/