We are all familiar with subjective working time and perceive it subconsciously. We work for an hour on a task that is not progressing and have the feeling that we have already been working on it for three hours. Or, conversely, we realize that a task is completed faster than we thought. Our subjective perception of time affects our motivation.
Subjective working time and its impact on motivation and satisfaction
Our personal perception of time is influenced by many things. We all know this: when we are bored, the seconds seem to tick slower. When we’re having fun, time flies by. Subjective working time is exactly that: our perception of the progression of time during work. If we complete tasks that we enjoy, we get into a flow. After two hours, we look at the clock and think to ourselves with surprise “that went faster than we thought”. If, on the other hand, we struggle with a task that we don’t enjoy at all, we look at the clock and think “that was only half an hour?” or “I’m supposed to do that for another three hours?” The subjective working time almost always deviates from the actual working time in one of two directions. On average, it is 2.3 percent higher than the actual working time. This means that most workers develop a feeling that they are working longer than they actually do. This feeling has an impact on the motivation and satisfaction of employees. Those who believe they are working more than they actually do lose motivation. Productivity and quality suffer as a result. According to a study, a negative subjective working time increases employees’ intention to resign by 25 percent. In addition, there are increased signs of exhaustion and a disconnection from the company and its goals. To avoid these consequences of subjective working hours, there are tips that employers can implement in their company.
3 tips for a positive subjective working time
As an employer, it is possible to have a positive influence on subjective working hours.
Tip 1: Avoid monotony
Monotonous tasks are one thing. Exclusive monotony in the workplace is something else. There are employees who like to do the same tasks over and over again. But most employees want variety. This does not mean that managers have to constantly conjure new tasks out of a hat to keep their employees happy. However, employers should know their employees and be able to assess how much monotony they can impose on them. It is the job of employers to know how their employees approach tasks. If someone wants to do the same task all day, then employers should make sure that they get it. Employees who want a lot of variety should be given that variety. It often helps, for example, to give employees freedom when it comes to completing tasks. They can then organize their tasks as they wish and avoid monotony themselves.
Tip 2: Prevent constant availability
E-mail, smartphones and chats mean we are always available. However, this creates an atmosphere of “having to be there”. Subconsciously, employees can feel under pressure to answer every question immediately. The consequence of this is that they are constantly checking their emails or cell phones. Pressure situations reinforce the negative perception of subjective working time. Clear communication rules within the company can be a good measure. Employers can take the pressure off their employees. For example, by stipulating that emails are checked every morning and then not for the rest of the day. Or that messages and calls on the smartphone are only permitted in an absolute emergency.
Tip 3: Prevent online addiction through subjective working hours
Based on the previous tip, constant accessibility is also linked to the fact that we are always online. This is particularly problematic because we don’t only find things online that have to do with our work. Nowhere is it easier to “waste time” than on the internet. In fact, the use of mobile devices during working hours increases subjective working time by almost 10 percent. The cell phone is always at hand. In order to counter this problem, it is important to promote employees’ digital skills and achieve self-management that promotes a healthy approach to digital media. Of course, this also requires the willingness of employees. However, employers must always take the first step. They are responsible for positively influencing subjective working time and ensuring that time flies by for employees while they are at work.
