Why a Jam-Packed Calendar May Signal a Coming Raise

Researchers analyzed data from over 9,000 workers to understand the economic function of office gatherings, which they jokingly compare to the broccoli of the professional world: widely disliked, yet seemingly essential. While meetings consume an average of 12% of total working hours, the study suggests that high-frequency meeting schedules often correlate with higher pay and faster career momentum. According to Harvard economist David Deming, these sessions serve as a necessary cost for coordinating complex, specialized production that cannot be handled in isolation.

However, the study stops short of suggesting that simply adding more meetings to your schedule will trigger a raise. Correlation does not imply causation. Instead, a meeting-heavy calendar often reflects a role that is central to company operations or requires significant cross-functional collaboration. Employees who are deeply embedded in these workflows are naturally more visible and critical to the output. Despite the findings, skepticism remains widespread; a recent Resume Now survey indicates that 64% of employees believe half or less of their time in meetings is actually productive.