The Problem With 9 to 5
The Problem With 9 to 5
Is The Traditional Workday Becoming Obsolete?
Traditionally the 9 to 5 working day, amongst other things, is a good way to define the difference between work and leisure. With its origins in the 19th Century, it has been the mainstream schedule of working across centuries.
But with advances in technology, we no longer have to be at the office to work. Research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development shows that 40% of people check their work at least five times a day outside of normal office hours. Similarly, 30% feel empowered by having remote access to the workplace and 37% believe it makes them more productive.
The importance of the flexibility of the working day is also manifesting itself in employee attitudes to new employment – according to a study by Beyond.com, 45% of those surveyed said that flexibility in working hours and location took precedence over pay when looking for a new job.
But 9 to 5 still has its supporters, and for employers there is no guarantee that flexibility translates into higher productivity. The rigid nature of the model in theory also provides a modicum of protection from prevalent workplace issues such as overworking and mental health.
