Small Businesses

Research shows the digital workday never really ends. Are digital charters the solution?

  • 4 min Read
  • August 30, 2021

Author

Escalon

Table of Contents

Digital technology has long blurred the distinction between office and home for white-collar workers. And the office-home division has been further eroded by the shift to remote work amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The transition has not only changed where employees work, but also when they work. The traditional nine-to-five, Monday through Friday workweek has been replaced largely by working in bursts. Many employees are working at night, early in the morning, between household chores and caregiving responsibilities or any combination of the latter. 

Now research published by the Harvard Business Review confirms that the workday in this new culture literally has no end. Plus, employees are often working alone with minimal overlap with colleagues.

What the research found

The study assessed the work behaviors of 187 employees from six Fortune 500 companies. All previously worked in a physical office with well-defined hours but transitioned to 100% remote work in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The study identified 4 patterns in the digital workday


The digital workday falls into two distinct zones. 

An eight-hour, nine-to-five window where team members may work together.

A 16-hour window where they mostly work apart.

The digital workday truly is endless.  

The highest degree of worker overlaps occurs at 10 a.m. (about 70%) and 3 p.m. (about 60%). There is no time in the workday when everyone is offline. 

At 4 a.m., an average of at least 10% of the team is working. 

No matter what time of day, at least 1 in 10.2 individuals is working online.

Digital employees are working odd hours, alone. 

About 60% of work is completed from nine-to-five.

Some 40% of work is performed mostly solo and outside traditional hours.

Digital teams are rarely all together.

Across 22 sample teams, at least 29% weren’t online simultaneously, no matter what hour.

Team overlap troughs from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and gradually returns for the 3 p.m. peak. 

The midday drop reflects workers’ differently timed breaks in the absence of a social lunch hour.

 

The study found that productivity and team overlap are related only some of the time

Business processes were positively correlated with team overlap 41% of the time

Productivity is higher for some processes when team members work together at the same time. 

 

Business processes were negatively correlated with team overlap 26% of the time

Productivity is lower for some processes performed together and would benefit from explicit norms allowing it to be done without distraction. 

Business processes were neutral in correlation with team overlap 33% of the time. 

Productivity is unaffected by whether team members are working together for some processes. Such duties are good candidates for being performed remotely long-term. 

Implications

The digital workday is functionally and psychologically different for employees from the traditional office. Hours are scattered, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. are peak overlap times and there is little opportunity to socialize. Some remote tasks hinder productivity when performed together but others are enhanced. 

In keeping with these findings, employers should create a digital charter that mitigates the downsides of remote work but maintains flexibility. 

 

Your digital charter should address these 4 elements:

Time together: Schedule hours when 50% of the team works together online. Slate business processes that benefit from overlap and communicate decisions affecting the team in the period.

Flexibility: Allow employees to schedule business processes based on personal preference. The majority of study participants naturally performed tasks when they could be most efficient.

Varying overlap needs: Not every business process requires social cohesion and group work. Target overlaps for business processes where they boost productivity.

Offline time: Allocate times when employees can do their focused work without interruption unless absolutely necessary. Employees can also use “do not disturb” flags to signal a quiet period.

 

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

Accounting & Finance

Common Accounting Mistakes That Cost Medium-Sized Businesses Millions 

Accurate accounting is the bedrock of any successful business operation. Yet, medium-sized businesses—those that have grown beyond the small-business stage...

Read More
Taxes

1099 vs. W-2: How to Ensure Compliance and Reduce Risk 

Distinguishing between independent contractors (1099) and employees (W-2) is a pivotal compliance matter for U.S. businesses. Misclassification can result in...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Capital Raising in Spring: How to Position Your Startup for Investor Interest

Spring symbolizes renewal, making it an apt metaphor for startups aiming to secure fresh capital to fuel their next growth...

Read More
uncategorized

Spring Clean Your Payroll: Essential HR Best Practices for Scaling Startups

Payroll is more than just issuing paychecks—it’s a complex, high-stakes process that can significantly impact employee satisfaction, legal compliance, and...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

How to Leverage Q2 Financial Data to Drive Startup Growth in the Second Half of the Year

For startups seeking sustainable growth, every quarter provides a treasure trove of data—but Q2 data can be particularly revealing. By...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Q2 Business Planning: Adjusting Your Financial Strategy for the Rest of the Year

By the time Q2 rolls around, many startups have a clearer picture of their performance and market positioning compared to...

Read More
People Management & HR

5 Key HR Challenges to Address Before Summer to Keep Your Team Engaged

For many startups, the summer months can be a dual-edged sword. On one hand, warmer weather and looming vacations can...

Read More
Taxes

How to Maximize Your Tax Deductions: Essential Tips for Startups in Q2

Tax season often triggers stress and complexity—especially for startups laser-focused on building products, acquiring customers, and scaling operations. Yet savvy...

Read More
Startups

Mid-Year Financial Checkup: How to Assess and Adjust Your Startup’s Budget 

The halfway mark of any given year is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a valuable checkpoint...

Read More