Count on time for hard work (5)
I believe the answer is:
graft
'hard work' is the definition.
(graft can mean working hard)
'count on time' is the wordplay.
'count' becomes 'graf' (German aristocratic title equivalent to count).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'graf'+'t'='GRAFT'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for graft that I've seen before include "Transfer of tissue - hard work!" , "Labour" , "Slip" , "Means of propagation - hard work?" , "Surgical transplant" .)