A recent Wiley Workplace Intelligence report reveals that nearly two-thirds (60%) of employees who spent more than 15 hours a week in meetings experienced severe stress levels in 2025. This stress, exacerbated by what Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index terms the “infinite workday” of constant emails and notifications, primes workers for reactive behavior.
High-pressure meetings often trigger impulsive responses—losing one's temper, struggling for words, or agreeing to unmanageable tasks—before the brain can intervene. According to an executive coach cited in the report, this reactivity is a survival response rooted in past experiences, not just the immediate situation.
The findings suggest that workplace stress is often brought into the room before a meeting starts. Employees in a reactive state are primed to expect the worst, listening for annoyances and slights, which undermines collaboration and decision-making.
This data signals a broader trend: chronic meeting overload is eroding emotional regulation at work. Organizations may need to reconsider meeting culture and invest in stress management to preserve leadership effectiveness and team cohesion.
Critics might argue that the study overemphasizes meeting hours as a stressor, ignoring other factors like workload or poor management. However, the Wiley report provides a clear snapshot of a growing workplace challenge.