Time and Ethics

There is a time management principle not often discussed. I call it time integrity. Time integrity is delivering for one’s employer maximum productivity per hour of time worked.

Where time integrity is practiced everyone benefits; the workforce, the company and the customer. When time integrity is not practiced Parkinson’s Law quickly takes over. Parkinson’s Law states, “Work expands to fill the time allotted.”

Signs that time integrity is lacking includes such things as finishing getting ready for work at work, surfing the net, stretching breaks and lunch and private cell phone calls on company time. Others include needless interruptions, over socializing and the list goes on and on.

Parkinson’s Law is quickly neutralized in organizations where two things happen.

First, an organization wide awareness of the importance of time and how it’s being used and measured is created and maintained.

Second, there is concentrated effort to hire and train people with a strong work ethic.

After all, time is a highly perishable crucial resource no organization can afford to squander. When one practices time integrity job security is reinforced and career path opportunities are enhanced.