Remote and hybrid work is set to become the norm for many employees going forward.
But while some may be happy with these new arrangements, there’s a problem: how do you create definition in your work day when you work flexibly?
For example, how do you prevent working parents from being ‘boxed out’ of meetings that take place during school pickup times?
The solution, according to high-profile firms like Slack and Dropbox, is to set core hours and make certain times of the day off-limits for meetings.
The idea is that employees should be online and available for meetings during core hours, such as 10am-2pm. But outside of these hours, it’s a meeting-free zone.
This gives employees more freedom and flexibility while also boosting meeting productivity, because in theory, all required personnel will be ready and able to participate.
It will also help employees to create better work/life balance, which is especially important for those working from home.
As hybrid work schedules come into play, some managers say core hours help preserve employees’ productivity and sanity — and keep meetings from proliferating out of control.