There is no harm in leaving work until the last minute, but submitting it late should be avoided, research shows.

Scientists studied the psychological impact of when work was completed and if being early, on time, or late mattered. Almost 7000 people were enrolled in a total of 18 experiments and were asked to rate the quality of various pieces of work.

All the items were identical – but the people assessing them were told they were submitted either late, at deadline or early.

The scientists said an essay submitted late was considered to be as bad as a piece of work that had missed the word count and was objectively inferior. But the study found no link between how late something was submitted, and how badly it was viewed.

Despite late work being objectively identical and of the same level as the early or on time alternatives, the study found that it is human nature to view late work as inherently worse.

Professor Sam Maglio, the study’s author and a professor at the University of Toronto, said: “Everyone saw the exact same art contest entry, school submission or business proposal, but they couldn’t help but use their knowledge of when it came in to guide their evaluation of how good it was.”

An essay sent for marking one hour late was viewed as being just as poor as one sent a week late, for example.

No protection from one late submission

The scientists also found that being a model worker and having an immaculate reputation was no protection, with just one late blip enough for people to mark down your work.