"Micro-shifting" is the new favorite way to work

"Workers love flexibility, with most preferring a greater work-life balance than the old model of sitting at a desk for eight hours (give or take a lunch break) provides. So it's no surprise that "micro-shifting" is trending among employees, especially Gen Zers and millennials, per a survey of 2k US employees by video conferencing company Owl Labs. "Micro-shifting"... ... involves breaking up work into shorter, non-linear blocks to allow for other activities during the traditional work day."

"Many of us probably already do this without calling it "micro-shifting". You go to work in the morning, take a break to go to the dentist or get a haircut, go back to work, leave to pick up your kids or walk your dog, have dinner and family time, and cram in a bit of work before bed. Congrats, you're a micro-shifter."

"Meanwhile... ... employers are engaging in a move called "hybrid creep" that threatens the freedom micro-shifters enjoy. Rather than risk employees balking at a full RTO mandate, some companies asked employees to work a hybrid schedule. But Owl Labs found that ~33% of employers switched up their hybrid policies in the last year. Thirty-four percent of respondents said they now have to go into the office four days per week, up from 23% in 2023."

Workers increasingly adopt micro-shifting, breaking the workday into shorter, non-linear blocks to accommodate personal tasks and improve work-life balance. Many employees report no official start or end to the day and schedule personal appointments during working hours. Typical micro-shifting routines include daytime errands and evening work sessions. Employers are increasing in-office expectations through hybrid policy changes, with a notable rise in four-day office requirements. Some employees prefer more in-office time, but many report reduced flexibility. Employers cite output tracking and face-to-face collaboration as motives, while long commutes, stress, unnecessary meetings, and technical issues raise burnout risk.

Read at Thehustle