Why Does It Feel So Wrong To Be Human At Work?

Ep 3 | Why Does It Feel So Wrong To Take The Afternoon Off?

Episode Summary

Have you ever played hooky from work? Have you ever felt guilty for not working when it’s within the hours of your traditional workday – even if you know that you’ll make up that time later in the week? In this episode, we’ll talk about why it’s more beneficial – for you and your organization – to work when you’re feeling most productive.

Episode Notes

Season 1, Episode 3: Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Take the Afternoon Off?

Episode Description:

Ever feel guilty for stepping away from work before 5 p.m.—even when you’ve met your goals? You’re not alone.

In this insightful episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee take a hard look at how we've been conditioned to treat time as the ultimate currency—and why that’s no longer serving us. From personal stories to historical deep-dives, they break down the emotional and cultural baggage tied to “leaving early,” and how organizations can create healthier, more human-first time policies.

They explore:

• Why the traditional 9–5 workday feels outdated in a knowledge economy
• The roots of time = money thinking, and how it drives guilt
• The psychological effects of overwork, burnout, and performance optics
• The cultural gap between policy and practice (unlimited PTO, 4-day workweeks, etc.)
• How trust and autonomy lead to more purpose-driven employees
• What managers and leaders can do to create a truly flexible work environment

From bartering wheat to tracking hours with timecards, to tracking outcomes over presence, this episode makes the case for trust as the new workplace currency.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Pandemic flexibility and #DisrespectTheNineToFive
• 05:00 – First time playing hooky: Wolverine 2 and peanut M&Ms
• 10:00 – Selling time vs. selling outcomes: Where do we stand now?
• 15:00 – Workplace guilt and why flexibility still feels “wrong”
• 20:00 – Historical breakdown: Why we started measuring work in hours
• 25:00 – The rise of salaries, the power dynamic of compensation
• 30:00 – Unlimited PTO, performance pressure, and cultural mismatch
• 35:00 – Agency burnout and expectations around overwork
• 40:00 – 4-day workweeks: Myths, research, and Nixon’s prediction
• 47:00 – Chronotypes, circadian rhythms, and Daniel Pink’s science of timing
• 52:00 – Why failure is part of outcomes—and why leadership needs to allow for it
• 58:00 – Managers vs. leaders: Trust, autonomy, and rethinking control
• 01:05:00 – Friday joy vs. Sunday scaries: What that tells us about our jobs
• 01:10:00 – Practical takeaways: What to stop, keep, and explore
• 01:15:00 – Hashtag your time off: #WhyDoesItFeelSoWrong

Books & Resources:

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink

The Confidence Code by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman

Four-Day Workweek Global Pilot Study (2023 Results)

Mic-Drop Moments:

“If you don’t have the flexibility to work when you’re at your best—are we really getting your best?”

“Unlimited PTO means nothing if the culture tells you not to use it.”

“Trust is the new currency of an evolved leader.”

Connect with Us:

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

Special Thanks:

Big shoutout to Local Wisdom for championing people-first work culture, to our brilliant producer Brielle Seracini, and to the production magic of SBX Productions for helping this episode come to life.

Take the Afternoon Off—Then Tell Us About It:

Check your calendar. Find a 2–3 hour block in the next two weeks. Schedule a meeting with yourself and label it “Why Does It Feel So Wrong?” Then actually do something that feels right—take a walk, watch a movie, take a nap. Snap a pic and tag us with #WhyDoesItFeelSoWrong. Your future self will thank you.