Employees' biological clocks play a significant role in shaping how, when, and why people help each other at work, according to research published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. The study introduces the concept of 'Time-Extension Self-Efficacy' (TESE), which refers to an individual's belief in their ability to successfully wake up earlier or stay up later than usual.
The research shows that an employee's chronotype—whether they are a morning person or a night owl—predicts their TESE. This confidence then influences when employees are most likely to engage in helping behaviors at work.
Researchers found that while a person's biological clock is stable, TESE can be changed. A brief recall exercise, where individuals think about past successful attempts to extend their day, significantly increased their TESE. This finding suggests organizations can actively encourage greater collaboration and flexibility by influencing these beliefs.
"Most people assume that time is experienced the same way by everyone. We all have 24 hours," said June Ryu, assistant professor of management at Portland State University and lead researcher. "But this research shows that morning people and night owls actually perceive their available time differently, and that difference drives when they choose to help others at work. What I find most exciting is that while your chronotype is biologically grounded and hard to change, your beliefs about how far you can push the boundaries of your day are not. Those beliefs can be shifted, which suggests there is more room for people to act beyond their biological tendencies than we previously thought,"
The study offers actionable strategies for organizations aiming to foster adaptability and support among employees.
