‘Those who work by the clock are of no good use’: Delhi CA-turned founder admits how a young CFA proved him wrong by working only 9 hours

For years, long working hours have often been treated as a sign of ambition and commitment. But a young CFA working in Delhi challenged that assumption by refusing to stay even a minute beyond 6:30 pm. Delhi-based founder and CA Kanan Bahl recently shared how the employee changed his perspective on productivity. Despite working only nine hours, she was getting more done than many employees putting in 13-hour days. Her approach, he says, came down to focus and discipline.

Young CFA refused to work after 6:30 pm

Delhi-based founder and CA Kanan Bahl took to X to share the experience of hiring a young CFA. Bahl said the employee made it clear that she would not work beyond 6:30 pm. At first, this challenged his own assumptions about employees who strictly followed working hours. He admitted that he had previously believed people who “work by the clock” were of little use and would not produce good work.

But the CFA quickly changed his mind.

She worked for 9 hours but outperformed 13-hour employees

What stood out to Bahl was not just that the CFA left on time. It was how she used her working hours. He observed that she hardly took tea or coffee breaks and did not spend office hours engaging in unnecessary banter. She also rarely spoke to colleagues unless the conversation was related to work. According to Bahl, this focused approach meant she was accomplishing more in nine hours than most people who were working 13 hours a day.

Her example forced him to reconsider the connection between the amount of time someone spends at work and the amount of work they actually accomplish.

Kanan Bahl admits his interview approach was different

Bahl also revealed that he had a particular way of testing candidates during interviews. He said he would ask candidates how they would respond if they had to work 14 to 15 hours every day for several weeks. The question was intended to test their willingness to handle demanding workloads. However, he did not ask the young CFA that question. Looking back, Bahl said he was glad he had forgotten to ask it during her interview.

Had he focused solely on her willingness to work extremely long hours, he might have overlooked the qualities that ultimately made her highly productive.

Long hours do not always mean better work

The CFA's experience highlights the difference between working longer and working effectively. Someone can spend 13 or 15 hours at an office without necessarily producing more meaningful work. Meetings, conversations, breaks, distractions and fatigue can all affect productivity. On the other hand, an employee who remains focused throughout a standard working day can potentially accomplish significantly more.

That appears to be what Bahl saw in the CFA. Her strict boundary around working hours did not prevent her from performing well. Instead, she made the hours she was at work count.

Focus and discipline matter more than clocking long hours

Bahl's biggest takeaway was that employees do not necessarily need to work beyond their scheduled hours to excel. He concluded that a person can “do great at your job” while working by the clock, provided they remain focused and disciplined. The distinction is important. Leaving work on time is not automatically a sign of low commitment, just as staying late is not automatically proof of high productivity.

Netizens react

Several users agreed with Kanan Bahl’s point that productivity should not be measured simply by the number of hours an employee spends at work. One user argued that employees are “human, not robots” and that making people work beyond stipulated hours can reduce productivity and affect their health. The user added that employees are more likely to stay with firms where they are not expected to work “insanely” long hours and are paid on time.

Another user said they “completely agree” that high-quality work can be delivered within reasonable time limits. Sharing an example from their workplace, they said all research analysts leave by 5:30 pm under strict instructions, while still producing “enormous quality work”. A third user, drawing on two decades of experience in international logistics, said that with good planning and execution speed, “only 2 hours of work” may be required. Spending more time, they argued, could be a sign of inefficiency.