Microsoft study finds "infinite workday" is hurting productivity

In brief: Remember during and immediately after the lockdowns, when so many companies promised a new era of work-life balance and flexibility? According to new research from Microsoft, the opposite is now true, with most people working an "infinite workday" that lasts more than 12 hours and bleeds into weekends. It's impacting productivity, and while AI could make things better, it could also make them worse.

Microsoft's June 2025 Work Trend Index Special Report warns that more people are now trapped in a seemingly infinite workday. It starts at 6 am, goes on after 8 pm, and doesn't stop when Saturday and Sunday arrive.

The findings, based on trillions of globally aggregated and anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, show that 40% of people who are online at 6 am are reviewing email for the day's priorities.

Much of the most productive hours of the day, between ...