← Remote Work Glossary

Core Hours

A defined window during which everyone on a team is expected to be online, even if the rest of the day is flexible.

Core hours are the set block — say 10am to 2pm in a shared timezone — when all teammates should be reachable for meetings and quick decisions. Outside them, people work whenever suits them, blending flextime with just enough live overlap.

Core hours are a common compromise on distributed teams. Check them before accepting a role: generous core hours pinned to a distant timezone can quietly rule out your location.