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The rise of hybrid and remote work has allowed employees greater flexibility, but it has also blurred the boundaries between work and leisure.
A new survey by streaming service Tubi has revealed that 84% of Gen Z employees admit to watching TV shows or movies while working from home, and 53% say they have even delayed work to finish a binge-worthy series.
The findings, based on responses from 2,502 frequent streamers, suggest that younger employees see streaming not just as entertainment but as part of their workday routine. HR experts say that it is not necessarily a sign of declining productivity, but rather a shift in how Gen Z approaches focus and work-life balance.
“Tubi’s The Stream found that 84% of Gen Zers admitted to streaming shows and movies while working from home, and 48% said they’ve lied to their boss about it,” said Cynthia Clevenger, Senior Vice President of B2B Marketing at Tubi.
“As hybrid work models continue to be the norm, the boundary between work and entertainment becomes more fluid across the board. This data signals a deeper shift in how Gen Z, and increasingly other generations, are integrating streaming into their everyday routines. 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. Our research also found that 80% of viewers say they’d rather spend their time watching a TV show or movie than scrolling on social media, indicating that streaming continues to be a popular form of escapism for many Americans.”
Employer distrust and the push for RTO
Despite the apparent benefits of flexibility, some business leaders remain skeptical about remote work’s impact on productivity and will see the survey as further supporting evidence for their case.
Concerns over employee engagement and efficiency are at the root of major corporations pushing for a return to office. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been vocal about his disapproval of remote work, particularly for younger employees, arguing that it hinders professional development and workplace culture.
Research from Workhuman found that Gen Z and millennial employees are the most likely to engage in “fauxductivity”— appearing busy without actually working. A 2024 survey of 3,000 full-time employees in the US, UK, and Ireland revealed that more than 30% of these workers admit to faking activity on the job.
While some leaders see streaming during work hours as a symptom of disengagement, others believe it reflects broader shifts in workplace dynamics.
“Employees today are navigating significant professional and personal stressors, and traditional measures of productivity don’t always capture the full picture,” said one observer.
Rethinking productivity in a digital-first era
For Gen Z workers, who have grown up in a digital-first world, multitasking with background entertainment is not unusual. Some HR professionals argue that rather than cracking down on streaming, employers should focus on outcomes and trust their teams to manage their workloads effectively.
“Having a show, podcast, or music in the background is not necessarily a distraction—it can actually enhance concentration,” said Simran Bhatia, Head of People Operations at Reality Defender. “Progressive companies should consider how to design work environments that align with how different generations function best.”
Trust, rather than micromanagement, may be the key to maintaining engagement. While nearly half of Gen Z workers admitted to hiding their streaming habits from their bosses, the reluctance to return to the office may have more to do with autonomy than entertainment.
“Yes, Gen Z streaming at work is happening, but it’s not necessarily a problem,” said Patrice Lindo, CEO of Career Nomad. “This is a signal that we need to rethink our understanding of attention and productivity rather than punish new ways of working.”
Kristen Robinson