Member-only story
How Remote Work Will Save the Night Owl
For decades, corporations favored early birds — until the pandemic came along
I’m a night owl. I can get up early and be at work by 8 am — but man, I’d prefer not to. More commonly, I get late start, and, like a slowly accelerating locomotive, don’t hit my stride until mid-afternoon. My best work is often done in the later evening or the hours around midnight — leaving me a bleary mess the morning after.
In office culture, night owls have a terrible reputation. Managers far, far prefer employees who show up bright and early. One study found that the later you showed up to work, the less “conscientious” your manager perceived you to be.
And look, I understand why managers dislike night owls! It’s probably depressing to watch all your vampire employees stagger into the office late, eyes crusty with sleep, fumbling with their coffee, irritated at the injustice of mere existence. Who wouldn’t prefer to greet their corporate golden retrievers — those bright-eyed keeners who bound into work at 8 am, fresh from their 10-mile run at daybreak and their kale smoothie and their mindfulness meditation or whatever the hell it is that early birds do in the morning, how would I know?
But here’s the thing: The arrival of remote work in the pandemic has been a huge…
