9-to-5 Work Schedule
In Ford’s day or the 20th century, a 40-hour workweek gained massive popularity for people working primarily on production lines. It was a mass production economy where maximum output was indeed the key to success. A century later, times have changed dramatically, and it is predominantly a service economy. Especially after Covid-19, it has been a tectonic shift, where 9-to-5 Work Schedule seems to be a thing of the past as alternate work schedules, work from home, flexible work options, cloud-based assignments, and hybrid work models have taken over. Given how the agile working environment requires constant adaptation, we highlight three significant reasons employers show the 9-to-5 Work Schedule the way out.
Increased Productivity
Big Corporations such as Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft have recorded massive profits by experimenting with pandemic-induced remote work and flexible schedules. Studies have shown that employees worked even longer hours and during the weekend, leading to higher productivity. Even the stock market hit an all-time high making many corporations move to such free form schedules permanently. Seeing how the flexibility in work hours brought about by companies led to happier and more productive employees, it is essential to continue finding such win-win work solutions to ensure long-term success and employee retention. The role of AI in hiring and work processes has decreased the level of accountability stress.
Beneficial for both workers and management
The technology we possess currently was not there in the past. So we can connect with people better with the help of online video platforms and interactive software that allow for instant messages and communication with people around the world. There is no need to continue with the work standards of the last century, as a remote work schedule is beneficial for both workers and management and allows employers to cut down on major costs, save time and make sure optimal productivity is achieved. Rather it is regressive not to consider different work options that seem to be more humane and can fit the needs and wants of employees and employers in today’s time.
➤ 5 Major HR Trends to look out for in 2021
Knowledge-Economy3 Reasons Employers Should Ditch the 9-to-5 Work Schedule.
Work has changed drastically over the last century in practically every way as we are no longer spending hours performing the same operations repetitively. The service economy is, in fact, a knowledge economy where tasks required to perform are less suited to an eight-hour schedule. The knowledge economy requires employees to be dynamic and creative, and forcing them to abide by a fixed and rigid schedule would lead to them being less productive, less abstract, and more stressed.
Not too long ago, it seemed impossible to offer flexible work options. Still, with the increased technological advancement and access, the shift like work and the economy, and the increasing demand for free form schedules, it is rapidly becoming mainstream in today’s business world. Businesses are now heading for a hybrid work approach that allows certain hours to be fixed and blending it with a flexible schedule to maximize efficiency. Employers should focus more on employee satisfaction and ease to ensure productivity, and forcing upon a rigid way of work will only be detrimental for the employer in the long run.
