The rise of micro-shifting: redefining the future of work

In this day and age, workers are rethinking about what the traditional 9-to-5 should look like. More than ever, people value flexibility and a healthier work-life balance over spending long, uninterrupted hours at a desk. This has given rise to “micro-shifting,” which is a growing trend among employees, especially Gen Z and millennials.

Micro-shifting means breaking up the workday into shorter, unstructured blocks to make room for other parts of life. A survey of 2,000 U.S. employees, by video conferencing company Owl Labs, found that nearly a quarter of workers don’t have a clear start, or end to their day, while 59% regularly schedule personal appointments during work hours.

In day-to-day life, many people already do this. Whether it be working in the morning, stepping away for caregiving, errands, or family, and then returning to tasks later in the day, or evening. This approach especially benefits those balancing multiple responsibilities, like education, or second jobs, while giving employers the chance to work with a broader variety of people.

Furthermore, the latest Deputy report shows demand for this kind of flexibility is strongest among younger workers. Gen Z makes up more than half of micro-shifters, and the majority (63%) view AI positively, seeing it as a tool that helps them rather than replacing them. Deputy’s CEO, Silvija Martincevic, emphasizes that this is not just a Gen Z trend. Shorter shifts are also growing among Gen Alpha and Baby Boomers, showing that micro-shifting represents a much broader generational shift in how people approach work. As Martincevic puts it, “It’s not about working less; it’s about working smarter,” creating situations that benefit both employees and employers.

Meanwhile, some companies are pushing in the opposite direction, in what Owl Labs calls “hybrid creep.” Instead of mandating a full return to the office, many employers are slowly increasing the number of required in-office days. About a third of companies changed their hybrid policies in the past year, and 34% of surveyed employees said they are now expected to come in four days a week, up from 2023. While most workers are open to two, or three days in the office, nearly half report having less flexibility than they would like.

Employers often argue that more time in the office improves collaboration and makes it easier to track productivity, but for employees: longer commutes, added stress, and wasted time in unnecessary meetings often taint those benefits in a bad light.

What we’re seeing now is a shift in focus: the debate is no longer just about where people work, but also when. Micro-shifting shows how employees want to design their schedules around both personal and professional needs, making time as important in the future of work as place.

What do you think? Do you see this flexibility as the future of work, or just another passing trend?