Burnout and workload statistics
Long hours, meetings, interruptions, focus time and burnout. Every figure links to its source.
Burnout
The WHO describes burnout as a syndrome caused by chronic workplace stress that has not been managed well, with 3 signs: exhaustion, mental distance from the job, and reduced effectiveness at work.
Worldwide classification (ICD-11), work setting only · WHO, Burn-out an occupational phenomenon, 2019
The WHO does not classify burnout as a medical condition. It is listed under factors that affect health.
ICD-11 · WHO, Burn-out: an occupational phenomenon (FAQ), 2019
About 1 in 4 US employees feel burned out at work very often or always.
US employees · Gallup, Employee Burnout: The Causes and Cures, 2023
Half of employees in the US and Canada felt a lot of stress during the previous day, compared with 39% in Europe.
Employees in the US, Canada and Europe, 2025 · Gallup, State of the Global Workplace 2026: Regional Data, 2026
46% of workers in Europe say they face severe time pressure or too much work.
27,250 workers in the EU, Iceland and Norway · EU-OSHA, OSH Pulse: Occupational safety and health in post-pandemic workplaces, 2022
Long hours
Long working hours led to 745,000 deaths from stroke and heart disease in 2016, 29% more than in 2000.
Global estimate · WHO and ILO, Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke, 2021
Working 55 hours or more a week is linked to a 35% higher risk of stroke than working 35 to 40 hours.
22 studies, more than 839,000 people · WHO and ILO, Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke, 2021
Working 55 hours or more a week is linked to a 17% higher risk of dying from heart disease than working 35 to 40 hours.
37 studies, more than 768,000 people · WHO and ILO, Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke, 2021
About 9% of the world's population works long hours, and the share is growing.
Global population · WHO and ILO, Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke, 2021
Meetings, messages and focus
The average worker receives 117 emails a day and 153 chat messages each weekday.
Microsoft 365 users · Microsoft WorkLab, Breaking down the infinite workday, 2025
The busiest Microsoft 365 users are interrupted by a meeting, email or notification every 2 minutes.
Top 20% of users by message volume · Microsoft WorkLab, Breaking down the infinite workday, 2025
Meetings held after 8 p.m. rose 16% in one year.
Microsoft 365 users · Microsoft WorkLab, Breaking down the infinite workday, 2025
The average employee spends 57% of work time in meetings, email and chat, and 43% creating.
Microsoft 365 users · Microsoft WorkLab, Work Trend Index: Will AI Fix Work?, 2023
68% of people say they do not have enough uninterrupted time to focus during the workday.
31,000 workers in 31 countries · Microsoft WorkLab, Work Trend Index: Will AI Fix Work?, 2023
What these figures mean for a team
Most of these figures describe how a working week is arranged: hours, meetings, messages and interruptions. Those can be counted in any team. The free meeting load audit and team workload planner do the counting.
Download the data
All figures on this page in one spreadsheet, with sources and links.
Cite this page: Burnout and workload statistics. employee capacity. https://employeecapacity.com/burnout-and-workload-statistics/