As a fully remote/flexible/async SW developer contractor paid by the hour, I have a different situation than most.
Personally I do not install any work apps on my phone because I could easily end up "doing work" that I don't really get paid for.
When I work, I sit down at my actual PC intentionally, I start a timer, and I bill for my time that I take doing work only.
I avoid any work that I need to respond to outside of that and I make this fact known to anyone I work with.
It is quite possible they added Adblocker poisoning code.
I haven't touched Youtube for years now, and its not because of ads, its because the Youtube app/webapp is terrible. I'm actually ok with paying to remove ads, but I'm NOT ok paying for a terrible experience, and abusive company.
Open source Grayjay and Freetube do a much better distraction-free job of finding and playing Youtube videos. They just happen to never play ads too, and its easy to hide algorithmic recommendations.