There was a time when only the professional classes had to worry about the “billable hour”. And since they could generally bill out their hours at a rate large enough to pay for three-piece tailoring and well-aged whiskey, the hassle of recording their daily activities was worth it. Then came the rise of the freelance knowledge worker and the gig economy, and suddenly, a whole new population from delivery driver to virtual CxO was managing their own accounts and keeping track of time.

While the billable rate was generally less than the consultants or lawyers of old, for some, the flexibility of work made it worthwhile. For others, the availability of work in a time of high unemployment prevented them from arguing.