Most of us still think of a full-time employee as someone who works Monday through Friday for eight hours a day. However, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey, this definition may be outdated.
According to the survey, nearly 3 in 5 workers (59 percent) are of the opinion that the traditional 9-to-5 workday is a thing of the past – and not because of flexible schedule perks. Nearly half (45 percent) of workers say they work on work-related assignments during their off hours, and 49 percent say they check or answer emails after they leave the office for the night.
Who’s Putting in Extra Work?
Despite a very similar percentage across genders believing that the typical 9-to-5 workday is an antique (58 percent of men; 60 percent of women), men remain more likely to complete work-related tasks outside of business hours.
Forty-nine percent of men say they work outside of office hours, versus only 42 percent of women. Men are also more likely to remain tied to the office when they leave – 54 percent say they answer emails outside of office hours, as opposed to 43 percent of women.
Next Generation of Workers
In terms of age groups, older workers are more of the opinion that the traditional 8-hour day has had its day. Sixty-five percent of workers ages 45-54 and 61 percent of workers ages 55 and up agreed that the 9-to-5 day is a thing of the past, compared to only 42 percent of workers ages 18 to 24.
Still, workers 55 and older are also more likely to put thoughts of work aside at the end of the day, with 60 percent saying they don’t keep working after closing time, and 54 percent saying they don’t check their work emails after office hours.
This is compared to only 52 percent of workers in the 18 to 24 age group who say they don’t keep working after business hours. Even fewer (41 percent) say they do not check or answer work emails outside the office.
Technology’s Influence
Much of this increase in overlap of work into personal time can be explained by today’s “always-connected” culture.
“While smartphones and other technology allow us to remain connected to the office outside of normal business hours, it may not always be a good thing, as workers are having trouble disconnecting from their jobs,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer for CareerBuilder. “Not surprisingly, younger workers ‘attached to their mobile devices’ are more likely to work and check emails past business hours, while older workers feel less pressure to check-in after they have put in a full day of work.”
For more on the death of the 9-to-5 workday, check out the full report.
