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What Is ‘Microshifting’ And Why Employees Are Breaking Free From The 9-5 Grind?

What Is 'Microshifting' And Why Employees Are Breaking Free From The 9-5 Grind?

AI poses a threat to jobs, but in today’s era of market uncertainty, evolving corporate culture is steering people away from traditional 9-to-5 office jobs. The advent of remote and hybrid work models now allows individuals to work at their convenience.

In the past, people often adjusted their lives around their jobs. However, the current trend involves integrating work into daily routines, such as checking emails early morning, hitting the gym in the afternoon, collecting children from school, and finishing projects post-dinner.

This phenomenon, known as ‘Microshifting’, involves breaking work into smaller chunks, and experts believe it represents the future of work.

Forbes, citing Oval Labs’ 2025 State of Hybrid Work report, reveals that 65% of office workers desire a more flexible schedule. Additionally, Deputy’s ‘The Big Shift: US 2025’ survey shows that Generation Z prefers shorter shifts in service industries like hospitality and food service to balance studies and side jobs.

Why Doesn’t 9-5 Work Anymore?

The traditional 9-5 model was designed for factory workers in the 19th century, where productivity was measured by hours spent in factories. However, today’s knowledge-based work, such as software development and marketing, does not operate like an assembly line.

Despite this, many companies are enforcing stricter return-to-office (RTO) rules. Oval Labs reports that 63% of employees are now full-time in the office, with hybrid workers’ in-office days increasing to 34%, up from 23% in 2023.

This trend, dubbed ‘hybrid creep’, shows companies pushing for office presence while employees resist, unwilling to let the clock dictate their productivity. The primary issue with the 9-5 culture is commuting time, which does not contribute to productivity, especially in cities like Mumbai or Delhi, where traffic can consume up to 2 hours. Flexible timing could be a solution.

What Is Microshifting?

Microshifting entails working in smaller blocks rather than continuous 8-hour stretches. Unlike traditional flexible hours, which might start at 10 am, microshifting offers complete freedom to work during productive periods or when family needs arise.

Examples include working from 7-9 am, then dropping children at school, attending to errands, working 2-3 hours in the afternoon, and finishing tasks after children’s bedtime. For knowledge workers, the freedom to choose ‘when to work’ is more crucial than ‘where to sit’. Essentially, microshifting is a step towards achieving work-life balance.

Flexibility Is More Valuable Than Salary

Employees are increasingly willing to forgo salary for flexible hours. Oval Labs indicates that 9% are prepared to sacrifice their annual salary for flexible hours, while 8% would compromise their salary for a 4-day workweek. Flexibility now holds equal importance to money due to two primary reasons:

  • Caregiving crisis: Traditionally, grandparents or aunts often helped raise children. Nowadays, the trend of nuclear families means 62% of employees care for children at home. The 9-5 model often results in missed school pick-ups, dinners, or bedtimes. Microshifting provides a guilt-free balance, allowing the management of both work and family responsibilities.
  • Rise of poly-employment: Dependence on a single job can create constant tension. Consequently, 1 in 5 employees now engages in poly-employment, maintaining a side business alongside their main job. Microshifting alleviates mental stress by diversifying sources of income.

Visibility vs Productivity

Many leaders believe ‘if you can’t see it, it’s not getting done’. However, data contradicts this notion, with 69% of managers affirming that hybrid/remote teams are more productive. Despite this, companies continue investing in tracking software. Only 19% of employees report that their company does not monitor them, and 47% view surveillance as a major concern.

Risk Of Burnout

90% of employees in 9-5 jobs report high stress levels, while 47% worry about job stability, resulting in silent burnout. Employees may pretend to work amidst office stress and challenges. Microshifting offers a potential solution, allowing breaks to refresh and return to work rejuvenated.

Why Is The Demand For Change Necessary?

For decades, people have lived according to their jobs; now, the reverse is true. Employees are willing to cut salaries, switch jobs, or engage in quiet quitting (feigning work). Companies that resist this shift risk losing not only personnel but also trust, creativity, and loyalty.

This new culture is gaining global acceptance. In India, while discussions around increasing work hours persist, microshifting emerges as a method to alleviate mental stress and uphold work-life balance. The pace at which this culture is adopted remains to be seen.

Source – https://www.news18.com/viral/what-is-microshifting-and-why-employees-are-breaking-free-from-the-9-5-grind-ws-dl-9637365.html

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