Is the 9-5 Outdated?

Behind the System That Shaped the Workplace

One of the most depressing realities I encountered starting my career journey was realizing the world doesn’t operate like my college schedule (I know, first world problems here). I had to say goodbye to waking up in the afternoon for class in exchange for the coveted 9-5. It was an adjustment, and I often wondered how the 9-5 came to be.

Why did it start? Is it really the most efficient way to work in the modern world? Can it evolve?

The History

Do you want to know what’s worse than an eight-hour workday? How about a workday where you work sunrise to sunset, six days a week? Doesn’t that sound tough! Well, that was the reality for most folks in the early 1800s. There were many strikes during that time to help improve the working conditions, which led to changes like a ten-hour workday. Still, that was pretty demanding on workers, and more strikes followed.

It wouldn’t be until the 1900s that we would see some legislation supporting changes for favorable hours. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fair Labor Standards Act standardized a 40-hour workweek and required employers to pay overtime, but most workers still worked ten-hour days four days a week. Except at Ford Motor Company, where Henry Ford famously instituted the eight-hour workweek five days a week.

Benefits of the 9-5

As you can see, the history behind the 9-5 served as a way to lessen the burden of the workers back in the day, but does it still hold value today? Some would say “Yes” for some of the following reasons:

Consistency: Obviously every 9-5 is different depending on company, function, and industry, but in a general sense you have a set schedule. You know when you’re supposed to show up, the days you have off, and can look forward to the weekend for rest (hopefully).

Stable Income: You don’t have to wonder when your next paycheck is coming. You normally have a pay schedule, steady income, which provides financial security.

Support: Traditional 9-5’s are known to offer health benefits, career training, advancement opportunities, and other support services to help improve their employees’ well-being.

Critiques of the 9-5

While the 9-5 holds value for some, others would challenge that it isn’t relevant to what the modern worker values today. Especially during the COVID pandemic, it led to drastically different work environments. Some challenges to the 9-5 include:

Flexibility: While set schedules do provide consistency, they aren’t as adaptable for the worker who prefers alternate working hours or remote work, where workers can essentially choose their own schedule that works best for them.

Work Life Balance: It’s not uncommon now to find workers trading long hours and high salaries for more time with their loved ones, hobbies, and life experiences. ‘A global survey of 3,404 professionals conducted by Adobe in 2021 found that 74 percent of Gen Z employees and 78 percent of Millennials would switch jobs for a better work-life balance’ (Black, 2023)

Productivity: If you ever leave the office feeling unproductive, you’re not wrong, its been found in an eight hour work day, the average employee is productive for nearly three hours (Curtin, 2023).

Can the 9-5 Evolve?

There’s no denying the 9-5 is still a reality most of us live daily. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it will always be. Employers are also noticing the challenges of the 9-5 too and some are trying to test out alternatives. One that is becoming more popular is a four day work week. Microsoft notably tested out a four day work week in Japan while giving employees the same salary and guess what, productivity improved by 40%. I mean that’s a big difference!

Another alternative is switching from synchronous work (work done at the same time) to asynchronous work (work not done at the same time). Essentially giving employees the flexibility to work wherever and whenever that would suit them. I know that sounds nice, but does it actually work? Yes, especially within companies and businesses that are digital, it’s often improved growth and morale.

Final Thoughts

One thing is for certain, the working world is changing. As part of that change, we might be seeing different working norms – perhaps no longer the 9-5, maybe a flexible 9-5, or something completely different. My hope is that it’s a system that truly supports its workforce, not just for success, but also for their wellbeing.