Most of the United States will gain an hour of daylight in the evening as clocks—internal clocks included—spring forward for Daylight Saving Time tomorrow. The time change, though disruptive to our circadian rhythms, can serve as a gentle nudge to optimize our use of daylight and become more productive during the longer, brighter days.
But an extra hour of sunshine alone isn’t enough to meaningfully boost productivity, particularly in the workplace. In fact, more than 50 percent of workers in a survey of over 15,000 employees report being relatively unproductive at work. Motivation hinges on several factors, including fair compensation, a sense of purpose, and development opportunities, say McKinsey’s Aaron De Smet and Angelika Reich. And workforces are not monolithic; tactics to increase performance require a more segmented approach.
Before you have to adjust to losing an hour of sleep, check out these insights to learn what's really behind employee disengagement and what companies could lose if they don't intervene.
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