The Internet seems to have become more of a hindrance than help in the workplace, suggests a new research, which showed that almost three-quarters of Australian workers rate 'watching YouTube' as the most common online activity at work.

The survey from Dynamic Business Magazine revealed that more than 70 per cent shop for gifts and gadgets at the office when they should be working, while two-thirds are buying concert tickets.

More than a third of Australians spend at least an hour on Facebook while at work, the survey found.

"Many of us are in front of a computer for the majority of our work day, often in our own cubicles or offices and now we know what's really going on," the Courier Mail quoted DBM's Jen Bishop, as saying.

"This kind of online activity is often generated by emails we receive promoting sales or new products, emails about new messages or posts on Facebook or friends emailing about new YouTube videos we just have to watch.

"These all serve as a call to action and have clearly become increasing distractions," Bishop added. (ANI)