How global teams really work
A data-backed operating manual for global, remote, and hybrid teams who are done with “just work harder” as a strategy.
Get the 2026 global trends and benchmarks report: How work gets done plus two bonus PDFs, a productivity benchmarks pack, and a time zone overlap playbook built from anonymized data from 140,000+ workers and 17,000 organizations using Hubstaff, combined with external research.
Get the report + bonus PDFs
Who this report is for
Why this report matters now
- People average 2–3 focused hours/day (39% of work time). Hybrid teams drop to 31%.
- Meetings are eating the day: 25% land in peak deep-work hours, and employees attend 2× as many per year.
- Teams use 18 apps/day (often 24–36). Every switch adds “toggle tax” and drains time.
- AI adoption rose (67% → 73%), but usage dipped (4% → 3%). Hybrid teams lead: 84% use AI and spend 11% of the day in AI tools.
This report turns the chaos into benchmarks and a clear next-step plan.
2026 benchmarks pack: Global teams’ productivity index
Use the benchmarks pack to:
- See where you stand. Compare focus time, meetings, apps per day, and AI usage against ranges based on real behavior from global teams.
- Set targets that make sense. Benchmarks are sliced by role × industry × workstyle, so you can define what “good” looks like for teams like yours.
- Design better weeks. Use the examples to sketch healthier default weeks for engineers, managers, and customer teams — then adjust meetings and focus blocks to match.
You’ll reach for this pack whenever you’re planning headcount, scoping projects, or checking if you’re quietly pushing people too hard.
Global teams' Time Zone Overlap Playbook
Use the time zone overlap playbook to:
- Make overlap rules real. Translate one or two global overlap windows into local-time bands so everyone knows when live collaboration is expected.
- Protect focus and evenings. Build in maker mornings, cap after-hours meetings, and stop dragging the same people into late-night calls.
- Share the load fairly. Rotate “unfriendly hours” so no single region carries the time zone tax every week.
You’ll use this playbook when you’re onboarding new regions, rewriting meeting norms, or finally answering, “Why are my evenings always on the hook?” with a concrete plan.