One of the most durable and long-standing aspects of the working world is the 9-to-5 work day. The eight hours where most employed people spend in the office working until it’s “quitting time” and then they head back home. It also happens to be one of the most widely lamented parts of many employees’ lives. There are countless studies that show productivity drops off for most people throughout the day and I’m not sure any employer truly believes their getting a full eight hours five days a week from their employees. So is it time to do away with the old 9-to-5 way of thinking?
This article from Huff/Post50 suggests that maybe the typical idea of a work day is outdated. The author puts forth the idea of shorter days equaling more productivity from employees. They point out that the idea of the 9-to-5 came from a time when working conditions were much different (i.e. much worse) and this is the one feature that somehow hasn’t been changed after all these years. But while working less and producing more is a nice idea theoretically, is it realistic? The article lays out the reasons why a shorter work day is beneficial, but have they considered how it would work into a budget, a business schedule, and the demands of the business?
Let us know your thoughts. Is it time to drop the 9-to-5 days, or is a shorter work day unrealistic?