The Pat Kenny Show Is microshifting the future of work?
Nov 27, 2025
Damien McCarthy, Founder and MD of HR Buddy, dives into the innovative concept of microshifting—splitting the workday into flexible blocks. He shares insights on how parents utilize this method to balance childcare and work. Risks such as 'double jobbing' and employee burnout are discussed, alongside the necessity for strong leadership in remote work. Damien highlights the unique challenges faced by young workers and the demand for better government support for caregivers, emphasizing the need for fairness in workplace policies.
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Micro-Shifting Defined And Its Purpose
- Micro-shifting breaks the workday into short, flexible blocks to enable work-life integration.
- Damien McCarthy says it arose from flexible work and helps parents juggle work and childcare tasks.
Avoid Burning Out With Split Shifts
- Be cautious: micro-shifting can mean "double jobbing" where people work mornings and evenings.
- Damien McCarthy warns it can leave workers exhausted unless managed deliberately.
Micro-Shifting Mirrors Natural Breaks
- Flexible patterns mirror normal short breaks people already take to restore focus during long screen sessions.
- Damien McCarthy frames micro-shifting as an extension of natural break behaviours enabled by remote work.