What is chronoworking that could boost employee productivity?

Getting up for the 9 am shift is challenging if you are a night owl. Being a morning lark also makes it difficult to work late in the evening. Did you know there is a work health trend that addresses this issue?

Not everyone is fit for the traditional 9 to 6 workday. ‘Chronoworking’ offers a win-win solution that works for all by ensuring the well-being of employees and boosting their productivity, leading to possible talent retention.

But what is it?

What is chronoworking?

Coined by British writer Ellen Scott, chronoworking allows people to tailor their work hours according to their circadian rhythms or body clocks.

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While early risers are typically more productive at the start of the day, their performance falls as time goes by. On the other hand, night owls are believed to be more efficient in the evening.

According to American clinical psychologist Michael Breus’ surveys, 55 per cent of people achieve peak productivity in the middle of the day (10 am to 2 pm). About 15 per cent give their best in early morning hours, while 15 per cent perform better working late into the night. Ten per cent of people have an erratic body clock, which can differ from day to day, BBC reported citing the surveys.

According to Adobe’s Future of Time report, there is a visible generational difference in preference for optimum working hours. Twice as many Generation Z workers were likely to want to work late-night shifts (6 pm to 3 am) than their Gen X peers. Only 6 per cent of baby boomers enjoyed the ‘graveyard shift’, with the majority choosing to log on to work before 9 am.

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Scott predicts that 2024 is the year “we start to question the rigidity of the traditional 9-5, and instead consider working in a way that aligns with our body clocks”.

Speaking to Stylist, sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning said that listening to our body clock is beneficial and can improve sleep health. “Becoming more in tune with your body clock at work will only ever have a positive impact. Whether we’re a morning person or not isn’t something we can really change, but we can adapt our behaviours to fit around our natural inclinations.”

What’s in it for businesses?

Four years after the pandemic, companies are seeking creative ways to lure and retain talent, as per Forbes.

Four-day work week, hybrid and remote work are some terms to have entered our vocabulary post-pandemic. Dirk Buyens, professor of HR management at Vlerick Business School in Brussels, told BBC, “No longer do we all spend an hour or so on a commute between the set times of around seven to nine in the morning, and we can truly understand when we are most productive and how to get the most out of our job.”

According to Buyens, while workers, especially younger ones, prefer adapting their schedules to their most productive hours, businesses can also gain from chronoworking.

The trend can enhance the performance and well-being of the employees, leading to possible talent retention. “If workers are happy and that their managers allow them to work hours that suit their needs, they are going to be more likely to stay at the organisation,” he told BBC.

Chronoworking is especially important for companies with workforces spread across different time zones.

Flexible work is gaining traction among employees as it reflects companies’ emphasis on freedom, independence, and trust in their managerial philosophy, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).

Explaining why chronoworking is relevant in today’s world, Amanda Rajkumar, former executive board member for HR at Adidas, told Raconteur, “By trying to fit these people into a normal corporate working day, you won’t be getting the best out of them. If people work better later in the evening, why are we asking them to be present in the office or online at 9 am?”

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Challenges of chronoworking

Some companies, particularly those with workers in multiple time zones, have found ways to adopt asynchronous work.

However, the practice is not without its challenges. While it gives workers flexibility to work as per their body clocks, there needs to be some “crossover hours” for meetings and collaborative tasks.

“They also need to be aware of each person’s individual working hours. Managers may struggle, both with overseeing staff output and also making sure they are available and supportive leaders at all times,” professor Buyens told BBC.

It would also not be easy for those in client-facing roles to dictate their working time, as potential customers are unlikely to be open to modifying their schedule according to the salesperson’s internal body clock, noted Raconteur.

However, with advancements in technology, there are ways to overcome these issues. We will have to wait and watch how long it will take companies to normalise chronoworking.

With inputs from agencies