clockwatcher

Clockwatcher is a term used in English to describe a person who keeps a close watch on the time, especially in work or school settings. A clockwatcher tends to glance at the clock frequently, calculate how much time remains in a task or the day, and express impatience as deadlines approach. The label applies to employees, students, and others whose attention seems primarily oriented toward the duration of an activity.

As a colloquial, often pejorative expression, clockwatcher implies disengagement or reduced productivity rather than a deliberate security role. It is commonly heard in discussions of workplace efficiency, job design, or burnout, where excessive focus on clock time signals low intrinsic motivation, fatigue, or misalignment between tasks and interests.

In practice, clockwatching can be a symptom of monotonous tasks, poor task variety, or rigid schedules. Employers and researchers sometimes see it as a cue to adjust workflows, provide more autonomy, or introduce meaningful milestones to pace work.

The term is formed from clock and watcher and is widely used in American and British English as informal speech. It does not denote an official job title, but rather a behavioral description. Variants include time-watcher or simply watching the clock.