The Beginning of the End of the 9-to-5 Workday?

Time/Yahoo ^ | 12-21-2011 | DAN SCHAWBEL

[Fledermaus]

I hate the term “9-5” because if you take even just 15 minutes a day for lunch and work 5 days a week you only “work” 38.75 hours a week.

Quit whining.

[Moonman62]

I agree. Technology is supposed to free us from servitude, however politics and the type of people who become politicians hasn’t changed. They keep piling up the debt and suppressing economic growth, all the while blaming the problem on others.

[2ndDivisionVet]

What industry are you in?

[Darren McCarty]

In my case, it comes down to required deadlines. The work must be done by date/time x, which is usually set by a third party. Missing deadlines carries severe monetary penalties to my customers and by extension I am liable for damages. The hours don't matter as long as it's done by date x. Usually a week, sometimes less. The size of the job always varies. I've done $100 jobs that took me two hours. Others took the entire week where I'm at my desk 15 hours a day from Sunday/Monday, rushing to finish and upload by 5PM on that next Friday.

Those harsh deadlines in my work are what repulsed me with the article, especially the parts further down about social media demands. I'm not only the president, but also the labor, and if I'm spending time on facebook during a deadline week, I'm in big trouble.

[Darren McCarty]

If I’m hiring I’d hire for x dollars per project. I’d have two rules as this is all behind the scenes work. Rule one is to keep the mouths shut about the information. Rule two is to get the work done on time and accurate before the deadline. The rest I wouldn’t care about. The work itself can be done anywhere in front of a computer.

[Darren McCarty]

We’re self-employed

Another CEO, treasurer, chief cook, and bottle washer. :)

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

I like 9-5. I can plan around it.

Once employers allow flexible hours, they will expect flexible hours. I worked splith shifts in retaurants for years and it sucks. You work 4 hours on 3 hours off and 4 hours on. You accomplish nothing in your 3 hours off, but you end your work day 11 hours after starting, with not a penny of overtime.

Just wait until these kids are expected to work shorter hours but 6 days a week with no over time. Split shifts. Staggered shifts. Moving shifts.

I love a 9-5 work week. Good luck with this, kids. The potential for employee abuse is endless.

Some people will really benefit from this flexibility, such as people who can almost be independent consultants providing their employer with a stand alone work product the create. Good luck to those who need a physical presence or have to deal directly with customers. This could get ugly.