US Polo Assn. chief sets a 5:30 p.m. boundary after 90-hour weeks

US Polo Assn. CEO J. Michael Prince now leaves the office around 5:30 p.m. and avoids contacting staff at night or on weekends, according to Fortune. His approach stands out in a corner-office culture where Fortune said the average CEO works about 62 hours a week, including time on weekends.

Prince told Fortune he tries to leave employees alone after the workday unless an urgent issue needs attention. He leads a global brand that Fortune described as a $2.7 billion business, with 1,200 stores across 190 countries and events that can extend beyond standard office hours.

Fortune reported that Prince applies the same rule to longer breaks, giving employees Friday through Monday on long weekends and staying offline himself. Prince said evenings and weekends should be protected for family, friends and personal recovery.

A schedule built around limits

Prince starts his day at about 5:15 a.m., Fortune reported. His morning routine includes an hour of exercise, coffee, email, breakfast with his family and sharing school-run duties with his wife.

He told Fortune he often arrives at work a little later to avoid traffic. Once he is in the office, his day can fill with calls involving sports partners, international licensees and internal meetings.

Prince said his team can reach him at any hour if something urgent comes up, according to Fortune. On ordinary days, he checks messages one last time after leaving work and then signs off.

Earlier years came at a cost

Prince told Fortune his current habits grew out of a more punishing period earlier in his career. He said he once worked 90-hour weeks and pulled all-nighters while trying to rise professionally.

Looking back, Prince said those habits may have cost him years of his life. He told Fortune he could have paid more attention to sleep, diet, exercise and travel routines, and said he now believes he could have worked in a more effective way.

Fortune reported that Prince, now in his 50s, views a career as a long stretch from a person’s 20s into later working life. His advice to ambitious workers, he told the publication, is to work hard while also taking care of themselves.

Other executives have drawn similar lines

Fortune also pointed to other prominent executives who have spoken publicly about protecting personal time. Netflix cofounder Marc Randolph has said he kept a Tuesday 5 p.m. cutoff for more than 30 years, leaving work for dinner or a movie with his best friend even when business pressures were high.

Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel previously told Fortune he works out twice a day and uses all of his annual leave, despite a schedule that includes heavy travel and at least 10 meetings a day. Fortune reported that Buechel asks employees about vacation plans and has limited how many hours they can sell back so they take paid time off.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon also takes all of his annual leave and has urged employees to protect their health and relationships, according to Fortune. In remarks to Georgetown students cited by Fortune, Dimon said people need to care for their mind, body, spirit, friends, family and health.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.