Before the development of artificial intelligence, Microsoft He pointed out in his annual work trends report, published at the end of April, to the establishment of what he called “Frontier Firm”, or Border Company. These are structured organizations around intelligence to the letter and promoted by hybrid teams of people and AI agents, and characterized by their agility and speed.

However, according to the company, the consolidation of this type of organizations will not be possible without a change of mentality in regard to the development of the working day and the relationship with work. It is not enough to improve the processes through the adoption of technology, but a new model must be promoted with what the company calls “The infinite workday” and, thus, prevent artificial intelligence from accelerating a failed system.

Microsoft has analyzed the use of its Microsoft 365 tools ecosystem, as well as the data of the aforementioned work trends report. This was made between 31,000 full -time employees in 31 different markets on February 6 and March 24 of this year.

The investigation concludes that workers are locked in an infinite workday, since they are connected or performing some type of task from when they rise until they go to bed. To demonstrate it, you have shared figures of what happens throughout a work day.

The morning begins before arriving at the office

The working day of many professionals usually starts before arriving at the office. At 6 in the morning, many Microsoft 365 users are already reviewing its inboxes crowded with the intention of preparing the rest of the day. It is worth noting two data: 40% of the people who are connected at 6 in the morning are checking their email to see the day priorities; And the average worker receives 117 emails per day, most of which are read rapidly in less than 60 seconds.

Facing at 8 in the morning, Microsoft Teams It exceeds email as the dominant communication channel, according to the technological one. The worker receives 153 Teams Messages on average every working day. Specifically, the number of messages per person have increased 6% year -on -year worldwide.

As Microsoft points out, each notification of email or message may seem insignificant, but all together reflect the frantic rhythm of the days. To the volume of communications it must be added that 57% of the meetings happen without prior call and that the average time without interruptions (meetings, emails, messages) is only 2 minutes.

Concentration during the day does not exist

One of the conclusions of the Microsoft analysis is that the most favorable hours for concentration are dedicated to the outside agenda. According to the company, half of The meetings They take place between 9 and 11 in the morning and between 1 and 3 in the afternoon, precisely when, as research demonstrates, many people have a natural productivity peak.

In addition, messages also mining those Natural productivity cycles. At 11 in the morning the messaging activity also triggers, with 54% of active users. This is the most overloaded time of the day, since messages in real time, scheduled meetings and constant change of applications converge, which makes concentrating on a single task almost impossible.

Microsoft data suggest that calendars seem concentrate on tasks How to write, analyze data and create presentations.

However, that time is fragmented since, as mentioned, they look interrupted every 2 minutes by a meeting, an email or a notification. A digital noise that leads many to point out that work feels chaotic and fragmented.

The afternoon, the consolidation of the third peak of activity

Microsoft more than three years ago pointed to the consolidation of a Third Pico de Activity During the day, one that is observed especially between 6 and 8 in the afternoon, and that began to appear as a result of the impact of the pandemic on the work environment. That peak is already a reality for many professionals.

Technological data show that meetings after 20:00 have increased by 16% year -on -year, caused, in part, by the increasingly common global and flexible teams. But beyond meetings, the average employee now sends or receives more than 50 messages outside the main working hoursthe traditional 9 am – 5 pm, and by 22:00, almost a third (29 %) of the workers once again review their entry trays, reflecting a constant increase in activity outside working hours.

Similarly, work activity is also extending to the weekend. Almost 20% of employees check their email before noon on Saturday and Sunday, waking up to work, and more than 5% consult it again on Sunday afternoon, starting at 6pm.
In addition, Microsoft point out that the use of your tools during the weekend, since many employees find time to work without interruptions.

Microsoft concludes that, for many, Modern workday does not have a clear beginning or end. In an increasingly complex and demanding context with the results and margins, the time that was previously dedicated to resting and enjoying, now goes up to date or preparing for the week. “Too much energy is spent organizing chaos before you can start significant work”, Says the company.

In this regard, it points out that the future of work will not be defined by how many monotonous tasks can be automated, but by those aspects that can be reinvented fundamentally. In this sense, he assures that a correct adoption of artificial intelligence It can help to reorient the work pace, to rename the teams in new and differentiating tasks, and solve what has become a seemingly endless working day. “The question is not whether the work will change. It is if we will do it“, says.