Chronoworking Helps Workers Excel

Vocabulary Questions:
What does “knock-on effect” mean?
A knock-on effect is an indirect result or consequence of something that happens. It’s like a chain reaction—one thing causes another.
Introducing flexible work hours had a knock-on effect on employee satisfaction and productivity.
Synonym: Ripple effect Domino effect

What does “to level the playing field” mean?
To level the playing field means to make a situation fair for everyone, especially when some people have disadvantages.
Providing free childcare at work helps level the playing field for working parents.
Synonym: To equalize opportunities To make things fair

What does “chronotype” mean?
A chronotype is a person’s natural preference for being active and alert at certain times of the day (e.g., morning person or night owl).
Her chronotype makes her more productive in the evening, so she prefers to work late.

Discussion Questions:
1. How is chronoworking beneficial to employees and companies alike?

Chronoworking benefits employees by allowing them to work during their most productive hours, which can improve their performance, wellbeing, and job satisfaction. For companies, this can lead to better results, higher employee retention, and a more motivated workforce. When people work according to their natural energy levels, they tend to be more efficient and engaged.

2. What might the downsides be of asynchronous work?

Asynchronous work can create challenges in communication and collaboration. Team members may not be available at the same time, making it harder to schedule meetings or work on shared projects. Managers might also find it difficult to monitor progress and provide support. Additionally, without clear coordination, some tasks might take longer to complete.

3. What do you personally think about this work approach?

I think chronoworking is a very modern and flexible approach that respects individual differences. Not everyone is productive at the same time, so giving people the freedom to choose their schedule can lead to better results and happier employees. However, it’s important to have some shared hours to keep teamwork strong and communication clear.

4. When do you think are you most productive during the day and why is that?

I think I am an early bird. I like to wake up early in the morning and go outside for a brisk walk. This helps me get ready to work with full energy and concentration after the breakfast I have when I come back. I think my most productive time is from 7:30 to 12:00 in the morning.

5. Do you think your company could afford to implement this approach? Why or why not?

In my company, we have flexible hours, but only within a certain time range. We can start work between a “window” from 8:00 to 9:30, and finish according to our start time, after completing 8.5 hours per day from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, we have fixed hours from 8:00 to 15:00.
However, in my project, we don’t have that flexibility because we provide technical assistance to a client, and we are required to follow the same working hours as them.
In other companies I’ve worked for, there was more flexibility—especially for developers—because the most important thing was to deliver quality code, no matter what time of day it was written.
That said, it’s also very important to have shared time with the whole team to hold meetings, align objectives, and stay focused on the same targets.

6. Share your thoughts on this, “It’s nonsensical that we all need to be working together all at one time. You get far more out of people if you operate around different chronotypes.”.

I understand the meaning of the sentence, and I mostly agree with it. It’s true that the idea of allowing each person to work during their most productive time of day is interesting and could positively impact productivity by increasing the quality of the work delivered.
However, it can also be a bit risky to give employees complete freedom. From my experience working in all possible ways (100% in-office, 100% remote, and hybrid), I believe you need a fairly mature team. There will always be someone who takes advantage of the situation to work less than their colleagues.
In addition, I truly believe that humans are “social animals” and need human interaction at least once a week. Seeing your colleagues, having coffee with them, chatting, and discussing things face to face in real life helps people grow on a personal level. Facing a challenge through a screen is not the same as doing it in person. We also need to enjoy and laugh together, with colleagues and friends physically close to us.