Too hot to work? Effect of temperature on intra-day work time

Rising temperatures due to climate change pose significant challenges to how much and how effectively individuals can work, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as India, where exposure to extreme heat is becoming more common. While existing research documents adverse effects of heat on labor outcomes, little is known about how individuals adjust their work patterns within a day. This study examines the impact of ambient temperature on time allocation, with a focus on intraday substitution of time spent on paid work. The study uses nationally representative data from the 2019 Indian Time Use Survey combined with high-frequency temperature data measured at 30-minute intervals. We estimate the effect of temperature on total daily time spent on paid work and on the likelihood of working during specific periods of the day. Our results show that extreme heat has limited effects on overall daily work hours but leads to substantial intraday reallocation of labor. Individuals shift work from the hottest periods midday toward early morning or late evening. This pattern is primarily driven by younger men and workers in self-employed or agricultural jobs, who have greater flexibility in their schedules and are more exposed to ambient heat. In contrast, salaried workers reduce work during peak heat without compensatory increases at other times. These findings highlight the importance of flexible work arrangements and targeted heat-mitigation policies to sustain productivity and worker well-being in a warming climate.