Overtime is becoming the norm for remote teams

A healthy work-life balance has become a non-negotiable for many employees in 2025. But with hybrid working models now the standard work model for SMEs, the line between workers’ professional and personal lives may be blurring, new data shows. 

Headspace, the popular mental health app, surveyed 2,000 workers for its 2025 Workforce State of Mind Report. Its findings indicate a worrying trend regarding the enforcement of boundaries at work. 

More than 7 in 10 employees are now regularly working outside of their scheduled hours, suggesting the rise in flexible working has many struggling to disconnect.

Overtime vs. Office

In its study, Headspace reports that 71% of employees work outside of their regular schedule at least once a week. The finding poses the question of whether the rise of remote working makes it harder for employees to set boundaries with their time. 

In a traditional office environment, once employees leave the premises, they are clocked off. This is not the case in an office-cum-living-room, as you may be lumbered with out-of-hours texts and emails, within the comfort of your own home. 

A physical office places a hard boundary between employers and employees which disappears in a digital WFH setup. The success of setting and respecting boundaries then rests on the quality of the working relationship. 

Headspaces’s data shows that only 41% of employees are comfortable setting boundaries at work, compared with 62% of executives. This imbalance could mean that employees end up working past their finish time, risking stress and burnout.

While remote working has time-saving benefits, such as avoiding the daily commute, this time may still be lost to working overtime. As previous data suggests, employees are more likely to work extra unpaid hours while working from home.

More Brits working on holiday

As well as working extra hours at home, the issue is also cutting into holiday time. 75% of respondents to Headspace’s survey report being available as needed even during their official time off. This builds on previous data which shows that over half of UK employees expect to work while on annual leave.

Interestingly, these stats coincide with the trend of workations, or work-from-anywhere policies. During a workation, employees work from a destination of choice without eating into their annual leave. They’ll work their regular hours, but then be able to enjoy their holiday destination post-work. 

Allowing workations can boost staff morale and instil a sense of trust between staff and bosses. However, workations could be seen as part of a growing trend of blending work and play that could be contributing to the rise in overtime.

If employees cannot take time off without the expectation to bring work along, then it doesn’t allow them to truly rest and recharge. 

Why can’t we switch off?

In October 2024, the government proposed the “Right to Switch Off” (RTSO) as part of its Employment Rights Bill. The law would have given employees legal rights to ignore work calls and emails outside of their regular working hours — but it has since been scrapped due to concerns it will negatively impact businesses.

Many countries do uphold Right to Disconnect laws. France was one of the pioneering countries to bring in RTSO laws, as part of labour reforms introduced in 2017. Employers that do not follow this rule could face fines. Luxembourg, Italy, and Portugal all have similar rules in place to uphold the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

UK bosses, however, remain divided when it comes to the RTSO. Our own data shows that as many as nine out of ten support the initiative. Contrarily, though, 39% still consider it necessary or acceptable for employees to work overtime. 

The importance of the 5pm finish

In a struggling economy, productivity is key. But it’s equally important to remember that sometimes less is more. Headspace’s findings support the importance of time off from work to avoid stress and burnout, which can wreak havoc on overall productivity.

While flexible working has its merits, we mustn’t forget the importance of a finish time. Being able to clock off at 5pm and truly disconnect is beneficial for staff wellbeing. And relaxed, recharged employees are also more productive — a win-win for bosses.