The traditional 9-to-5 workday has become a thing of the past. A report from Microsoft reveals that many knowledge workers start their day before they wake up, end late at night, and continue working into the weekend.
According to the report, which analyzed data from millions of global users of Microsoft 365’s productivity apps, the modern workday has no clear start or finish. In fact, employees are interrupted by notifications every 1.75 minutes during an eight-hour workday, making it difficult to stay focused.
Meetings after 8pm have increased by 16% and the average employee sends or receives over 50 messages outside of core business hours. A significant portion of workers, including those who are not parents, start their day at 6am.
The shift towards remote work has normalized working around the clock wherever you are. While some argue that flexibility is beneficial, experts warn that the inability to unplug can lead to burnout.
Microsoft suggests that artificial intelligence could help alleviate some of this pressure, but so far, it’s not making a significant impact. Meanwhile, many employees continue to get penalized for taking time off outside of work hours, despite being encouraged by their managers.
The research highlights the importance of finding a balance between work and personal life. Decades of studies have shown that having some separation between work and personal life is essential for individual employees and companies alike.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/06/17/microsoft-remote-work-meetings