In Defense Of 'Microshifting,' A Controversial Work Trend That Came Out Of COVID |
The pandemic exacerbated certain phenomena and birthed new trends, such as health anxiety, political divides and TikTok dances.
Something from COVID that you may not hear about as often (but might still practice) is called “microshifting” — and it’s worth a look at.
“Microshifting” is a controversial trend in which people work in spurts throughout the day. As you can imagine, it has fans and critics. Some blame microshifting for miscommunication, while others rave about how it promotes autonomy and work-life balance.
Ahead, psychologists share what microshifting is, how it has helped people and the pros and cons for employees and employers.
What Exactly Is ‘Microshifting’?
“Instead of working in one long, continuous block, like the traditional 9-to-5 job, you work in shorter bursts or shifts,” explained Clary Tepper, a clinical psychologist and physician well-being coach.
“This model is a departure from traditional fixed-schedule work models as it enables employees to configure their workday into discrete time blocks, thereby allowing individuals to respond to non-work specific responsibilities, including caregiving, daily life tasks and family-related needs within a single day,” added Dylan Ross, an organisational psychologist and the chief clinical and strategy officer at Psych Hub.
Rather than having to cram all your appointments, group fitness classes and nursing home visits on weekends and evenings, you can fit them in throughout the workweek — without having to take PTO.
How Microshifting Has Changed People’s Lives
Ultimately, Tepper and Ross are fans of microshifting. It has real-world success.
“I work with a lot of physicians who are burned out by the daily grind at work,” Tepper said. “I have had physician clients request changes to their schedule in ways that work better for them.”
Tepper shared the example of a client who was happiest when she saw clients in the morning, picked her child up from day care around midday, and worked in the afternoon while a