The “endless workday,” where employees receive emails and notifications 24/7, is only getting worse. In some cases, the rise of artificial intelligence is making the time professionals spend outside of their 9-to-5 jobs even worse.
According to an October 2025 Monster survey of 807 employees, 76% of full-time workers consider themselves at least somewhat workaholics. If you’re working nights and weekends for career security, the extra hours may not be worth the effort, workplace experts say.
In the age of AI, relentless dedication to work is not the answer, because “job security is no longer guaranteed,” says author and employee experience strategist Khalifa Oliver.
Meta laid off approximately 8,000 employees on May 20th. In an internal memo about the layoffs, billionaire founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote that “success is not a given” in artificial intelligence. While some organizations have directly cited AI technology as a driver for restructuring, restructuring is unlikely to stop anytime soon.
According to consulting firm Mercer’s 2026 Global Talent Trends Report, 99% of executives expect to reduce their headcount by up to 20% over the next two years as artificial intelligence impacts workflows. The report surveyed 825 executives and 1,650 HR leaders.
If you’re working overtime because you want extra pay or because your boss tells you to, that’s a different matter. But if you’re clinging to your job out of fear of getting fired or simply for the love of it, it can still be harmful in the long run, says Chelsea Jay, a leadership and development consultant based in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Jay notes that this obsession creates a cycle of “overthinking, overanalyzing, and overworking,” leading to limited creative functioning, sleep deprivation, burnout, and resentment.
According to an April 2026 report from mental health firm Spring Health, 46% of employees who experienced burnout said it became more difficult to stay focused and productive at work.
“No matter how much you think you love your job, work is a transaction,” adds Oliver. Overworked employees can be “so exhausted that they can’t spot mistakes, be innovative, or contribute most effectively.” And for the company, this person is unable to uphold the contract to contribute to the bottom line. ”
If you’re struggling with overwork, Jay recommends asking yourself these five questions:
Is my workload reasonable? Are there skill gaps that require extra time to complete my work? Does my department have enough support? Can I delegate? Where do I spend most of my time at work (i.e., meetings, socializing, helping others with their work, etc.)?
“From there, I recommend time-logging over the course of a week to track your activity and identify areas where you can save time,” says Jay. “If you’re really short on time, you might need to discuss the realities of your role.”
If you work outside of the 9-5, Jay recommends setting realistic time limits for completing tasks. That way, you can prioritize your personal health and well-being. Overwork and obsession shouldn’t be requirements for career success, she adds.
“At the end of the day, burnt-out employees are bad for you and bad for the business,” Oliver says.
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