RTO mandates may be back in force, but that’s not enough to stop the evolution of the workday.
|
|
| Keep reading below to know more! RTO mandates may be back in force, but that’s not enough to stop the evolution of the workday. The COVID-19 pandemic radically transformed how work is done. Many employees were forced to work from home due to pandemic-era lockdowns and travel restrictions. As a result, remote and hybrid working setups boomed and gave workers greater flexibility and control over their time. However, after the pandemic, workers were slowly called back to the office, with large firms like Amazon, Apple, Disney, and JPMorgan Chase announcing return-to-office mandates. With workers returning to the office full-time, the number of hybrid workers dipped, with 34% working in the office four days a week—a sharp rise from 23% in 2023. Moreover, it’s been reported that 63% of employees spend their time in the office full-time. Given these trends, it’s easy to assume that the 9-to-5 workday is back in full force, regardless if you’re in a remote, hybrid, or full on-site work setup. However, that may not entirely be the case. The narrative has shifted from where a professional is working to when he or she is working. Even though workers are being called back to work in the office in droves, some are pushing back by not adhering to the conventions imposed by the 9-to-5 workday. Instead, a significant chunk of the workforce is turning to microshifting.
… but wait, what is microshifting exactly? According to video conferencing firm Owl Labs, microshifting refers to “the subtle, often daily adjustment of an employee’s working hours or location to better fit their personal life, without a formal request for a schedule change.” Said another way, microshifting is the practice of dividing one’s workday into non-linear blocks of time based on productivity patterns and personal life responsibilities… all without requesting a formal change in work hours. Under this work setup, a working parent might work from 9 am to 10 am, then take a break to drop off his or her child at school, then return in the afternoon to continue working. This could also mean doing some work well into the evening. According to Owl Labs’ 2025 “State of Hybrid Work Report,” roughly 65% of workers are interested in microshifting. It’s even been found that many employees are willing to sacrifice part of their compensation for the right benefits, which include flexible working hours. What else? Microshifting is gaining ground due to a variety of reasons. Chief among them is personal life pressures. Today’s workers are either parents or individuals rendering care to elderly loved ones. Microshifting enables this group of workers to fulfill responsibilities outside of work. Another reason is the shifting focus on results and output over hours. Today’s dynamic workers and forward-thinking leaders are starting to question the traditional 8-hour/9-to-5 workday. They no longer measure productivity in terms of hours rendered but the results that were delivered. Last but not least, the boundaries of the workday have already blurred. Remote and hybrid working setups led to the encroachment of work life into one’s personal life. … but here’s the thing: While microshifting could lead to lower burnout, increased productivity, and higher talent retention, it also comes with some downsides. According to Owl Labs, these are:
Regardless of whether you’re a leader or a high-performer, it’s clear that microshifting is an emerging trend that could significantly influence the future of work. Therefore, this is something you should definitely watch out for. This is all the more true if you’re a manager or a high-level executive. It’s becoming clear that the traditional norms surrounding work are beginning to be questioned, especially as new ways of getting work done emerge at breakneck speeds. With artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative tech boosting productivity even further, employees will be able to get much more work done in less time. … and when workers have more time in their hands, they’re more likely to turn to microshifting to gain more agency over their time while simultaneously boosting their productivity. As a leader, it falls on you to come up with ideas and workplace arrangements designed to take full advantage of microshifting while also mitigating its potential negative outcomes and unintended consequences. For a daily version of this newsletter, please subscribe here. |
Miles Everson
CEO of MBO Partners and former Global Advisory and Consulting CEO at PwC, Everson has worked with many of the world's largest and most prominent organizations, specializing in executive management. He helps companies balance growth, reduce risk, maximize return, and excel in strategic business priorities.
He is a sought-after public speaker and contributor and has been a case study for success from Harvard Business School.
Everson is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants. He graduated from St. Cloud State University with a B.S. in Accounting.
