There are plenty of benefits to working from home, such skipping a commute and finding time to do chores, but one generation has found another benefit: working in their underwear.
A new survey by Talker Research has found that millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—are most likely to work from home wearing only their underwear.
Talker Research polled 1,000 Americans across generations between October 8 and 10, questioning them about their work-from-home attire.
Millennials were most likely to report working in their underwear, with 44 percent saying they did so at least occasionally. Additionally, 66 percent of millennials said they worked in pajamas.
By contrast, 34 percent of Gen X respondents—those born between 1965 and 1980—said they worked in their underwear, while 57 percent reported working in pajamas.
Those numbers were even lower for Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2006—as 30 percent said they worked in their underwear, and 40 percent said they worked in pajamas.
Baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—were more conservative in their outfits during working hours: 25 percent said they worked in their underwear, and 42 percent said they had worn pajamas during work. Members of the Silent Generation—those born between 1925 and 1945—universally rejected the idea, with none saying they worked in underwear or pajamas.
When it comes to millennials' laid-back attire while working, Hamie Passos, an HR and talent acquisition expert at HR Exchange, wasn't sold.
"While working in your underwear may seem like a small comfort, I don't recommend it," she told Newsweek. "Professionalism isn't just about being seen by others; it's about the respect we give to our work. Dressing appropriately, even at home, signals a readiness to engage, focus, and perform at our best. Just because no one's watching doesn't mean standards should slip."
Passos said that even when working from home, dressing as though you are at the office can transform your mindset. "It's a simple step, but it builds discipline, keeps morale high, and demonstrates self-respect," she said.
Agata Szczepanek, a career expert and community manager at LiveCareer, said what one wears while working at home is a personal choice.
"The only thing that can make working from home in your underwear unprofessional is letting other people from your work environment become overly aware of your clothing preferences," Szczepanek told Newsweek. "Otherwise, as long as it doesn't impact one's work performance or professional interactions, the choice of attire—whether it's underwear, a bikini, a full suit, or an elegant dress—should ideally be a nonissue. In a remote setting, what matters is the quality of work and the results we deliver, not what we wear behind the screen."
English (US) ·