Microsoft Report: 40% Check Emails by 6 A.M, 29% Reply by 10 P.M—The Rise of the “Infinite Workday”
49%
During the summer, 49% of U.S. employees are dialing back their efforts at work, with the trend most noticeable among younger professionals. About 64% of workers aged 21–25 report stepping back, followed by 56% of those aged 26–29. In contrast, only 39% of workers over 45 say they have done the same, according to Glassdoor. A key driver is the desire to reclaim personal time, with burnout mentions at a 10-year high.
44%
In Q1 2025, only 44% of job seekers received multiple job offers, down from 51% in Q1 2024 and 72% in 2023, indicating a softer labor market, according to Gartner. On the other hand, 35% backed out after accepting offers, compared to 48% last year. Higher pay (53%), career growth (47%), and work-life balance (45%) were top priorities. 10% of job seekers, including 20% of Gen Z, admitted to lying on resumes, with 76% landing offers. As layoffs loom, 53% of companies plan “quiet firing” to reduce costs without public backlash.
62%
A GoTo report surveying 2,500 employees across 10 countries found that 62% believe the impact of AI at work is overhyped, even though 86% admit they underutilize it due to a lack of understanding. Eighty-two percent are unfamiliar with AI’s practical applications, and 35% don’t know what tasks AI can assist with, resulting in a loss of 2.6 hours per day, which costs U.S. businesses up to $2.9 trillion annually in lost productivity. Employees want better tools, with 88% requesting AI virtual assistants and 86% favoring automation tools, highlighting the need for better training and purposeful AI integration.
41%
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that the company’s corporate workforce will shrink by over 20% the next few years as generative AI and AI agents are rolled out more widely. Jassy emphasized that while some roles will be reduced, new AI-related jobs will emerge, transforming how work gets done. His message aligns with WEF data, which shows 41% of employers plan to downsize due to AI. AI agents at Amazon are already enhancing tasks like research, coding, and automation, and Jassy urged employees to embrace AI through training and innovation.
20%
Microsoft’s report reveals a growing trend of the “infinite workday,” where boundaries between work and personal time are fading. Around 40% of employees start checking emails as early as 6 a.m., while 29% are still responding to messages as late as 10 p.m. Meetings after 8 pm have risen 16% YoY, and 20% of workers check email on weekends. Employees are now overwhelmed by a constant stream of communication, receiving an average of 117 emails and 153 Teams messages each day. With disruptions occurring roughly every two minutes, the workday has become a whirlwind of nonstop interruptions.. One in three employees say work has become unsustainable, and Microsoft urges using AI to redesign workflows and break this cycle for more focused, efficient work.