GoKawiilStudy Links Meeting Frequency to Faster Wage Growth, Harvard Economist Finds
A new NBER working paper from researchers at Harvard and the Norwegian School of Economics surveyed over 9,000 workers and found that time spent in meetings was the strongest predictor of wage growth among all workplace activities studied. Meetings consume about 12% of work hours on average, and the study found firms with more meetings tend to be more successful overall, while employees attending more meetings saw greater pay and career progress.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The finding challenges the common view of meetings as pure productivity drains, suggesting they may instead reflect—or even build—the visibility, coordination and influence that drive career advancement. Still, the researchers stress this is a correlation, not proof that scheduling more meetings will cause a raise, so workers shouldn't assume simply filling their calendars will boost pay.
- Time in meetings was the strongest predictor of wage growth among activities studied.
- Meetings take up roughly 12% of average work hours despite being widely disliked.
- The relationship is correlational, not causal, so more meetings won't guarantee a raise.
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See Time Timer visual desk clock on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: entrepreneur.com — Sherin Shibu, 2026-09-15
Published there as: “This Is the ‘Single Strongest Predictor’ That You’re Getting a Raise, According to Research”
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