- Describes an employee who frequently checks the time, eagerly waiting for the end of the workday or their break.
- Implies the person is not engaged in their work, is bored, lazy, or dislikes their job.
Explanation
Origin
- Literal description of the action: watching the clock.
- Became common as standardized work hours and factory/office clocks became widespread in the industrial era (late 19th/early 20th century).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Punching the clock (Refers to the act of clocking in/out, can imply just doing the minimum time required)
- Doing time (Comparing work to being in prison, implies strong dislike and eagerness to leave)
- Checked out (Mentally disengaged from work)
Vulgar/Emphatic: (Usually general insults about laziness rather than specifically watching the clock)
- Lazy fuck
- Doesn't give a shit (about the job)
Milder:
- Disengaged
- Not very motivated
- Eager to finish
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Carries a negative connotation.
- Avoid using it in formal evaluations or directly to the employee unless you are their manager addressing a performance issue (and even then, more specific feedback is better).
- Mostly used in gossip or complaints among colleagues or managers.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The meaning is fairly literal, but non-native speakers might not grasp the strong negative judgment associated with the term in a work context. It implies laziness and lack of dedication.
Examples
- He's such a clock-watcher; he starts packing his bag ten minutes before quitting time.
- The boss hates clock-watchers; he expects everyone to be focused until the very last minute.
- I try not to be a clock-watcher, but this meeting is dragging on forever.
Dialogue
Manager 1: Have you noticed how often Lisa checks her watch during meetings?
Manager 2: Yes, she's a bit of a clock-watcher, isn't she? Seems like she can't wait to leave.
Manager 1: It doesn't give a very good impression.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Worst feeling: being stuck in a pointless meeting and trying hard not to be an obvious clock-watcher. #WorkProblems #TGIF
- Reddit Post (r/antiwork): My boss called me a clock-watcher because I leave exactly at 5. Sorry, I have a life outside this place!
- Comment: He's always the first one out the door. Total clock-watcher.
Response Patterns
- Agreement: Yeah, it's really noticeable., So unprofessional.
- Justification/Excuse: Well, maybe they have somewhere important to be., Can you blame them? This job is boring.
- Self-reflection: Oops, I hope nobody thinks I'm a clock-watcher.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone is called a clock-watcher:
- Discussing the person's work ethic or attitude.
- Sharing other examples of their perceived lack of engagement.
- Speculating on why they dislike the job.
- Sometimes leads to discussions about workplace morale or management.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Used to describe or complain about an employee's behavior.
Intonation
- Usually said with a tone of disapproval or annoyance.
- Stress on clock and watcher. CLOCK-watcher.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations.
- The behavior itself might be viewed differently; older generations might see it more negatively, while younger generations might sometimes view it as maintaining work-life balance (though the term itself remains negative).
Regional Variations
- Common and well-understood in all major English-speaking regions.