Mischief | Traditional 9-to-5 causes 'deviant' employee behaviour

Mischievous employees often excuse their poor behaviour by deflecting the blame onto someone else, shrugging off their vulgar attitude as a ‘part of my biological makeup’, or attributing their sloppy work habits as a result of a bad night’s sleep. However, new research has suggested that workers may now have a legitimate excuse for their deviance at work.

New research has suggested that early birds and night owls are more likely to display 'unethical and deviant’ behavioural traits if they are forced to work outside their natural patterns.

Speaking at the Hay Festival on Monday, Science Journalist and Author Linda Geddes has subsequently called on employers to introduce flexible working schedules to accommodate for different circadian rhythms – the Guardian reports.

Allowing employees to start and finish work when and where they want is said to boost productivity as people know when in the day they are most productive. Additionally, with obtaining a healthy work-life balance currently a hot topic in the HR space, employers are becoming more aware of the physical, mental and emotional repercussions of an overworked workforce.