When Will the ’9-to-5′ Disappear?

By Heather R. Huhman | Published: January 12, 2010

I was reading the Ask a Manager blog by Alison Green and came across an interesting question from one of her readers:

My wife just finished interviewing for a promotion within her company and was given some unusual career advice from the vice president of her division. My wife was told that even though her working hours are 8am to 4pm, that she should not be so quick to leave work at 4pm. She was told that she should stay late once and a while to give the impression that she’s a “go-getter” even if all of her work is finished.

Alison, of course, gives a great answer to the complete question, but I’m prompted to ask myself (and you): When will the notion of ’9-to-5′ disappear?

Read my bio — I’m not lazy by any stretch of the word. But seriously, if you’ve completed your tasks for the day, is it really worth you staying in the building working on…nothing? Actually, I wonder how much the organization is losing from wasted resources.

It’s my prediction that, as Gen Y begins to start their own businesses and fulfill important leadership roles in corporations, there will no longer be a ’9-to-5.’

What will replace it? Perhaps “core hours” (i.e., you have to be in the office between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.), straight telecommuting where you pick your hours as long as work is being completed accurately and by deadline, or some combination of the two. Either way, Gen Y isn’t going to stand for “traditional” office hours once they’re in charge.

And why should they? I, for example, am a morning person. I get up at 4:30 a.m. every morning to hit the gym and am at work by 7 or so. Thus, I’m exhausted by the end of the workday — very likely to the point that my last hour or two aren’t as productive as the previous seven. My younger brother, on the other hand, is a night owl. He would much rather start work at 6 p.m. and work through the night. If we both worked for the same company, wouldn’t it make sense to encourage us to work when we’re the most productive? (Again, keep in mind this is under the assumption that we’re still producing the same quality of work and meeting our deadlines just as we would in the office between 9 and 5.)

What are your thoughts about the future of the ’9-to-5′ and Gen Y’s role as leaders in the workplace? What will replace our traditional work hours?

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  • http://careeradvisor.ro Madalina

    I am really looking forward to others opinions on this. I love the idea and I think that you are right, the Gen Y has a great role as they don’t know it is not possible. Which is a very good thing! The only potential threat, is the result orientation. Once the results are coming, it will start growing for sure. I found useful info also in Dan Pink’s talk about Motivation on Ted, http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

  • http://careeradvisor.ro Madalina

    I am really looking forward to others opinions on this. I love the idea and I think that you are right, the Gen Y has a great role as they don’t know it is not possible. Which is a very good thing! The only potential threat, is the result orientation. Once the results are coming, it will start growing for sure. I found useful info also in Dan Pink’s talk about Motivation on Ted, http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

  • Amy

    Wow – Being a Gen Y’er I’m a little shocked that VP of her division had the audacity to say that. I think you should definitely stay if you works is NOT done but to suggest someone stay so that others perceive them as a “go getter” is crazy. I know tones of “go getters” and they work unconventional hours something like yours Heather, I think many Gen Y’ers and other know their peak hours and work accordingly. 

  • Amy

    Wow – Being a Gen Y’er I’m a little shocked that VP of her division had the audacity to say that. I think you should definitely stay if you works is NOT done but to suggest someone stay so that others perceive them as a “go getter” is crazy. I know tones of “go getters” and they work unconventional hours something like yours Heather, I think many Gen Y’ers and other know their peak hours and work accordingly. 

  • http://www.pivotalsolutions.com Rosalie Terlizzi

    I would have to agree with  Amy on this one.  Professionals know what their most productive hours are and should be given the responsibility to get their job done on time.  We had an article on our blog not to long ago about this.  Gap and Best Buy have both adapted to this type of environment.  I think other organizations should open their doors to this as an option with the understanding their might be some roles where this could be difficult. (http://www.pivotalsolutions.com/hrblog/2009/gap-adopts-results-only-work-environment/)

  • http://www.pivotalsolutions.com Rosalie Terlizzi

    I would have to agree with  Amy on this one.  Professionals know what their most productive hours are and should be given the responsibility to get their job done on time.  We had an article on our blog not to long ago about this.  Gap and Best Buy have both adapted to this type of environment.  I think other organizations should open their doors to this as an option with the understanding their might be some roles where this could be difficult. (http://www.pivotalsolutions.com/hrblog/2009/gap-adopts-results-only-work-environment/)

  • http://www.InterviewRoadmap.com Sherry Mirshahi

    Heather, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m a member of Career Directors International and we had our latest trend report on what to expect in the next year in terms of changes in the workplace. At our lat conference, there was also a lot of buzz about telecommuting. It is much more economical from the company’s point of view and I think it promotes work/life balance for employees.  I think it’s a great topic to bring up also during the negotiation process for job seekers.  I always tell my clients if they won’t budge on the salary, ask about telecommuting!  I think the 9-5 has started to disappear but mostly in the larger companies and more for positions in which working from home makes sense.  For instance, if you are a web designer, you should have no problem telecommuting.  But if you were a controller at a company, it makes more sense to keep you working a ‘normal’ schedule.Thanks for the great post!

  • http://www.InterviewRoadmap.com Sherry Mirshahi

    Heather, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m a member of Career Directors International and we had our latest trend report on what to expect in the next year in terms of changes in the workplace. At our lat conference, there was also a lot of buzz about telecommuting. It is much more economical from the company’s point of view and I think it promotes work/life balance for employees.  I think it’s a great topic to bring up also during the negotiation process for job seekers.  I always tell my clients if they won’t budge on the salary, ask about telecommuting!  I think the 9-5 has started to disappear but mostly in the larger companies and more for positions in which working from home makes sense.  For instance, if you are a web designer, you should have no problem telecommuting.  But if you were a controller at a company, it makes more sense to keep you working a ‘normal’ schedule.Thanks for the great post!

  • Katie Farrell

    Thought I would share something interesting: My cousin is 22 and works for a large soda company. Many others in her office or “group” are young, entry-level, fresh out of college. She said that they are able to choose their hours, as long as they get 40 hours in at the end of the week. I find this to be a great solution! I am not a morning person, so going into a job at 9 a.m. everyday gets tiring for me. But she is, and just like you Heather, she can get up at 5 a.m. and be done with her workday early. Do you think many companies will be going this route in the future?

  • Katie Farrell

    Thought I would share something interesting: My cousin is 22 and works for a large soda company. Many others in her office or “group” are young, entry-level, fresh out of college. She said that they are able to choose their hours, as long as they get 40 hours in at the end of the week. I find this to be a great solution! I am not a morning person, so going into a job at 9 a.m. everyday gets tiring for me. But she is, and just like you Heather, she can get up at 5 a.m. and be done with her workday early. Do you think many companies will be going this route in the future?

  • HR

    You may not like the morning or late evenings, but if you have customers or clients that depend on you, you need to stay late and go in early to get the job done. If you’re finished your “tasks” each day by 5:00, maybe you should have more to do.

  • HR

    You may not like the morning or late evenings, but if you have customers or clients that depend on you, you need to stay late and go in early to get the job done. If you’re finished your “tasks” each day by 5:00, maybe you should have more to do.

  • Cat

    The notion of 9-5 is so archaic in today’s work environment. We’re all connected via the Internet, BlackBerry, etc. that we can complete work tasks wherever, whenever. I think the older-line companies however (probably where “HR” works) will always have trouble letting go of a traditional 9-5 work schedule. I worked for a manufacturer not too long ago where my boss would glare at me in astonishment when I tried to leave at 5 pm. You weren’t a go-getter if you left on-time. Needless to say I left that place, but I still find that there is a similar type of environment in older-line businesses.

  • Cat

    The notion of 9-5 is so archaic in today’s work environment. We’re all connected via the Internet, BlackBerry, etc. that we can complete work tasks wherever, whenever. I think the older-line companies however (probably where “HR” works) will always have trouble letting go of a traditional 9-5 work schedule. I worked for a manufacturer not too long ago where my boss would glare at me in astonishment when I tried to leave at 5 pm. You weren’t a go-getter if you left on-time. Needless to say I left that place, but I still find that there is a similar type of environment in older-line businesses.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    In my interview with Jason Fried of 37signals, Jason explains that he isn’t worried about how long his employees work – he just cares that they get the work done.I’m in total agreement with him there.  The amount of time worked is irrelevant – the amount of work completed and the quality of the work is what is important.9-5 isn’t the best idea anyway, because people work better at different times.  Some people are night owls and get amazing work done at 2am.  Others think best at 7am.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    In my interview with Jason Fried of 37signals, Jason explains that he isn’t worried about how long his employees work – he just cares that they get the work done.I’m in total agreement with him there.  The amount of time worked is irrelevant – the amount of work completed and the quality of the work is what is important.9-5 isn’t the best idea anyway, because people work better at different times.  Some people are night owls and get amazing work done at 2am.  Others think best at 7am.