Some SA employees miss their ‘work spouse’ more than their actual spouse, study finds

Almost a quarter of South Africans miss their ‘work spouse’ more than their actual spouse, while two thirds feel they are not as productive working from home under lockdown.

PRPioneer.com conducted a survey among 3,000 employees working from home in quarantine, testing their relationship with their work spouse vs their actual partner.

The average South African employee spends 40 hours per week at work, so naturally form close bonds in this space.

With the many distractions and temptations people face when working from home – such as the temptation to sleep in, watch Netflix or dealing with pressing distractions such as doing the washing or housework – 66% of employees working from home say they would simply be more productive if in lockdown with their work spouse.

One in ten employees admit to sometimes calling their actual partner by their work spouse’s name, while 23% say they miss their work spouse more than they would their actual life partner.

“While working from home, it is understandable why a large percentage of South African employees are struggling to focus on their work, especially with news of a global pandemic,” said Jamie Ellis of PRPioneer.com.

“If you have the space, try working in a separate room to one another and plan your lunch hours at the same time.

“This way, you will each be able to give more attention to your work tasks, while still enjoying time together as a couple over lunch, dinner and in the evening.”

Originally appeared on Zululand Observer

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