Years before joining VMware, Gelsinger worked at Intel, where he'd regularly log 80-hour workweeks.
But for the past 25 ears, Gelsinger told The Wall Street Journal, his secretary has kept a chart tracking the points he earns based on how much time he spends with his family.
Here's an example of how it works: If he arrives home by 6:30 p.m., he earns a point. If he arrives home by 5 p.m., he earns two points. If he's away from home on the weekend, he has points deducted.
Gelsinger, who is the author of the 2003 book "The Juggling Act: Bringing Balance to Your Faith, Family, and Work," said the rules have changed somewhat since his kids left home.
"If you have kids, 6 to 9 p.m. is gold. Do not squander it. You might get back on email at 9 p.m., or be doing Javascript at midnight, but make sure you carve those hours out [for family time] and protect those," Gelsinger told Business Insider's Julie Bort.