Microsoft Report Reveals the Never-Ending Workday: Emails at Dawn, Meetings at Night

A new report from Microsoft highlights the reality of the modern workplace, where the traditional 9-to-5 workday is increasingly a relic of the past. The Microsoft Work Trend Index, released this June, analyzes data from Microsoft 365 tools like Outlook and Teams to reveal an ‘always-on’ work culture. The findings suggest that many employees are already tackling emails before 6 a.m., with a significant portion of meetings now occurring after 8 p.m. The report indicates a fractured focus, with productivity stretching across morning, midday, and evening. The use of AI tools, such as Copilot, is emerging as a potential solution to help employees manage their workloads and reclaim some control over their time. The report underscores the need to rethink how work is conducted, not just focusing on speed, but also on smarter, more efficient practices to address the increasing concerns of burnout in the hybrid and remote work environments.