Post-pandemic productivity: Study reveals employees now have a more balanced work-break ratio

DeskTime’s latest study has discovered that the most productive employees operate on a 75/33 work-to-rest cycle – they work for 75 minutes and then rest for 33. In the COVID-19 pandemic’s remote working years, the ratio was 112/26 – people worked 1.5x longer sprints and took 1.3x shorter breaks. The new data therefore suggests that in-office or hybrid work encourages a healthier work-life balance than fully remote work.

While widespread return-to-office mandates have been causing heated discussions and are linked to growing employee dissatisfaction, the new study shows that spending at least a few days per week in the office could benefit employees. Another study by PwC has come to a similar conclusion after discovering that a hybrid work model boosts employee engagement and productivity. 

Our CEO, Artis Rozentals, commented on the study results:

“When DeskTime conducted the work/break ratio study back in 2021, we saw that working from home had immensely impacted workers’ ability to draw a line between work and life. Now, our latest productivity research shows we’re returning to more balanced working habits. Knowing the prevalence of hybrid work, the new 75/33 ratio may be linked to working in-office again.”

Shortened work sprints also allow people to increase their daily break count. When working from home during the pandemic, workers took roughly 3 breaks over an 8-hour workday. Now, they take approximately 4 breaks, making them longer, too.

“Working from the office, we’re naturally prone to taking more breaks – getting coffee, talking to co-workers, etc. While these interruptions may seem unproductive at first, they’re vital for mental rejuvenation and contribute to employee wellbeing. Plus, it provides us with the necessary social dynamic of a workplace. Ultimately, my experience as a CEO has shown that the hybrid model is the goldilocks choice, as it best leverages both this in-office social dynamic and the deep focus afforded by remote work,” DeskTime’s CEO added.

This 2025 study of the working habits of the most productive people aligns with the 10th anniversary of DeskTime’s 52/17 productivity study from 2014. The original research found that the 10% most productive people worked on average 52 minutes, followed by a 17-minute break. The 52/17 rule gained widespread popularity, achieving significant adoption that continues to this day. 

The recent study sample included 10% of the most productive DeskTime time tracking tool users, amounting to 6,000 individuals. The study identified the 10% most productive people according to DeskTime’s productivity rating, which is defined as the percentage of time using productive apps as opposed to those deemed unproductive. The data was collected from January 2024 to December 2024.

Article written by

Aiva Strelca

Aiva is a Riga-based writer, engaged in the vibrant tech and startup landscape of the Baltic states and beyond. In addition to covering startup stories, she loves exploring all things productivity and the workplace. If you stumble across personal productivity stories on the DeskTime blog, chances are they were written by Aiva.