Most workers are working on Sundays—here’s why

A recent survey by Owl Labs reveals that a majority of workers are diligently clocking in on Sundays. Nearly three-quarters of employees (74%) are finding themselves at work on the weekend, with 21% dedicating full or near-full days to their tasks. This Sunday work trend is particularly prevalent among younger generations, with 76% of Gen Z workers and 62% of millennials admitting to often working on Sundays. In contrast, only 34% of baby boomers and 42% of Gen Xers share this habit.

The report suggests that the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be contributing to this increased Sunday work. A significant majority of respondents (62%) believe AI has heightened their daily workload expectations, while 46% acknowledge that it can occasionally impede their productivity. Additionally, meeting fatigue appears to be a factor, with 38% of workers reporting that meetings leave them overwhelmed during the week due to overly long meetings (45%), an excessive number of meetings overall (41%), and back-to-back meetings (34%).

Workers are embracing a more flexible approach to scheduling, with nearly two-thirds (61%) expressing interest in "microshifting," or working in short, non-linear blocks to better manage their workday around personal commitments like parenting, health, energy levels, or productivity. According to Owl Labs, a Boston-based videoconferencing solutions provider, the survey polled 2,000 full-time knowledge workers across the U.S. on various remote, hybrid, and in-office work issues.

Despite the rise of full-time office work, flexible work arrangements remain highly popular. Forty-six percent of respondents stated they would opt for a hybrid schedule if given the choice. The report also highlights the widespread use of AI, with 82% of employees utilizing it, including 90% of Gen Z. The share of employees using AI daily has risen from 27% to 32% year over year.

While AI has its benefits, such as making 69% of workers more productive and boosting their confidence for 66%, 46% find it sometimes hinders their productivity, and another 46% worry that AI could make their roles obsolete. Notably, AI usage is more common among managers (92%) than individual contributors (62%).