Goodbye 9-to-5: Microsoft warns of ‘infinite workday’ burnout

Employees now start checking emails at 6 a.m., juggle over 270 messages daily, and lose productivity to constant digital interruptions, with meetings—mostly unscheduled—filling peak performance hours and complicating schedules across time zones, according to Microsoft’s findings

The standard 9-to-5 work schedule is becoming a thing of the past, according to a new global work trend report from Microsoft. The study reveals that employees are now engaged in what’s being called an “infinite workday,” driven by an overwhelming rise in digital communication, frequent meetings, and around-the-clock work habits.

The findings, drawn from anonymized data of Microsoft 365 users worldwide, point to an increasingly chaotic and fragmented work experience. Many employees report feeling constantly connected and under pressure, leading to a rise in fatigue and burnout.

Early start, long hours

According to the report, 40% of workers begin checking emails by 6 a.m., often before they even get out of bed. The average employee receives 117 emails each day, many of which are skimmed quickly to determine priorities. By 8 a.m., Microsoft Teams takes over as the primary work tool, with users receiving around 153 messages per weekday. In countries like the UK, Teams usage has risen more than 15% year-over-year.

Midday meetings disrupt peak productivity

Despite natural peaks in productivity during late morning and early afternoon, these hours are now dominated by meetings. Nearly half of all meetings take place between 9–11 a.m. and 1–3 p.m. The report notes that employees are interrupted every two minutes by a message, notification, or meeting alert. Moreover, 57% of meetings occur without prior scheduling, and nearly a third stretch across multiple time zones, complicating work-life boundaries.

Work spills into evenings and weekends

The Microsoft study identifies a growing trend of evening work and weekend activity. Meetings scheduled after 8 p.m. have increased by 16% over the past year, and one-third of employees are still active in their inboxes at 10 p.m. Additionally, around 20% of employees check work emails before noon on weekends—highlighting what the report calls the “Sunday scaries,” or rising anxiety about the week ahead.

AI seen as a potential fix

Alexia Cambon, Senior Research Director at Microsoft, noted the growing fatigue among employees. “The multiplication, intensity, and length of the workday is really creating a lot of friction,” she said.

The report suggests that artificial intelligence can help by taking over repetitive tasks like administrative updates, report creation, and status meetings. By doing so, organizations can create more room for deep work and quicker decision-making.

The study concludes with a call for companies to rethink how they structure work, emphasizing the need for balance, smarter workflows, and a healthier digital work environment.