A split workday that alternates between remote and office time has been hailed as the way of the future. However, due to this hybrid setup, some employees have never felt so exhausted.

Having a permanent hybrid setup was initially comforting, according to Klara, whose last name is being kept out of concern for the stability of her employment. After years of full-time office employment, she felt like she finally had control over her chaotic home life and stressful work schedule. But as the months went by, the novelty of the hybrid work arrangement rapidly gave way to irritation and an uncomfortably rigid routine. According to Klara, on the days that she worked from home, she felt comfortable and focused. Klara feels as though she now needs to keep up with two workspaces—one at work and one at home. It is so exhausting because of the daily psychological shift—the change in the atmosphere; she is continuously nervous and agitated, and her ordinarily efficient homework is continually interrupted.

New statistics are beginning to corroborate this anecdotal evidence, which indicates that many employees find hybrids emotionally stressful. In a recent global survey conducted by employee engagement platform TINYpulse, more than 80% of executives claimed that such a structure was demanding on employees. Employees stated that mixed work arrangements—even full-time office work—were more emotionally taxing than an entirely remote one.