What your browser choice says about you: Firefox users are more committed at work than those who use Safari or Explorer

Your choice of web browser may signal more about your behavior at work than simple technical preference. According to research highlighted in Adam Grant’s book, “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World”, employees who use non-default browsers such as Chrome or Firefox tend to be more committed, more productive, and more reliable than those who rely on default options like Internet Explorer or Safari.

The findings are based on research led by Michael Housman, which analyzed data from roughly 30,000 customer service agents. The study examined employee tenure, absenteeism, performance, and customer satisfaction to identify behavioral patterns linked to workplace outcomes.

Initially, the researchers expected traditional indicators—such as job-hopping history—to predict commitment. Instead, they found no meaningful difference between employees who had held multiple jobs and those with longer tenures. The surprising differentiator turned out to be something far simpler: the web browser employees used.

Employees who used Firefox or Chrome stayed in their jobs 15% longer than those who used Internet Explorer or Safari. They were also 19% less likely to miss work. Beyond retention, performance metrics told a similar story—non-default browser users recorded higher sales, shorter call handling times, and faster improvements in customer satisfaction.

Notably, customer satisfaction scores among Firefox and Chrome users reached levels in 90 days that Internet Explorer and Safari users typically reached only after 120 days on the job.

The researchers emphasize that the browser itself is not the cause of better performance. Rather, it serves as a behavioral signal. Internet Explorer and Safari come pre-installed on most PCs and Macs, and nearly two-thirds of employees simply used the default option without question.

By contrast, choosing Firefox or Chrome requires an active decision to seek out and install an alternative. As Housman explained on Freakonomics Radio, this small act reflects a broader mindset:

“The fact that you took the time to install Firefox on your computer shows us something about you. It shows that you’re someone who is an informed consumer. You’ve made an active choice to do something that wasn’t default.”

Adam Grant argues that this willingness to reject defaults often extends beyond browser choice. Employees who make proactive decisions in small areas of life are more likely to shape their roles, customize their work, and take initiative—behaviors associated with higher engagement and stronger performance.

While browser choice should never be used as a hiring or evaluation criterion, the research illustrates a broader point: subtle behavioral signals can reveal meaningful patterns when examined at scale. Small acts of initiative, repeated across thousands of employees, can translate into measurable differences in commitment, productivity, and outcomes.