Leaders, if you think times are changing, you’re wrong — they’ve already changed.
While COVID-19 changed our working lives in dramatic ways, the trends that emerged were indicative of a direction the world was already heading in. The traditional workday is dead. The truth of the matter is that the 9-to-5 workweek is on its way out.
There are a few big reasons for this:
Why The Traditional Workday Doesn’t Work
The eight-hour workday as we know it was designed to optimize productivity throughout the Industrial Revolution. The idea was that workers were doing manual labor and only had so much muscle — and energy — they could safely devote to that kind of work day-in and day-out. This schedule was developed as a humane (at the time) alternative.
We’re sure it was the right move 200 years ago — but it’s high time to recognize that the working world has changed.
The Global Economy
Because we’re living in a global economy, we’re connected to people all over the globe in our business lives. Because time zones exist, you can’t exactly fit in that conference call to Japan in on your EST 9-to-5. Because our world is more connected than ever, when you work has to be more flexible than ever.
The Internet Age
The advent of the Internet and social media changed the way we work. Not only are people increasingly able to work from wherever they want, but customers expect 24/7 access. If they message your company on Facebook Messenger, they don’t want to be kept waiting for a response.
The Internet Age has made us more impatient, more in need of instant access and instant gratification. That’s just the reality.
Because of this, employees often work long after the office goes dark — answering emails, managing social media, and trying to get ahead of the game.
The lines between work and life are increasingly blurred thanks to instant — and expected — connectivity to work.
Natural Brain Function
There’s a science to structuring the workday. Our brains only operate effectively in a “focused” mode for an hour or so at a time before needing a break of at least fifteen minutes. The traditional workday doesn’t accommodate natural brain function or facilitate real productivity.
We’re expected to work in that solid 8-hour chunk, often working through lunch. This creates boredom, a lack of focus, and degrading quality of work. It’s far, far more efficient to work with the natural patterns and behavior of our brains than to push through for an antiquated idea of productivity.
With that in mind, what does the future of the working world look like?
4 Alternative Ways to Work
1) Flex Hours
Flex work is the happy medium between a traditional workday and no set schedule. It means that employees are expected to work between certain hours (ie. 9 am to 2 pm) in the office while the rest of their schedule is self-determined. What matters isn’t the hours worked but that the work gets done.
Flex hours can be beneficial for working parents who may need to juggle their work schedule with picking up the kids, household responsibilities, and work. Being able to flexibly work from home at least some of the time allows for a more effective work-life balance.
2) Freelance
Freelancers are an increasingly utilized commodity in the working world. These are independent contractors that are paid to complete either a short or long-term contract. They are not employed by a company but are self-employed. When you hire a freelancer, you do not have control over when they work or from where they work. Generally speaking, they just have to meet a deadline and fulfill the obligations of their contract.
Freelancing can be an effective and lucrative way to work — you take on as many projects as you’re willing and able to. This lets you set how much you want to work in a week. At the same time, there’s no job security in freelancing or the benefits of company insurance or retirement options.
As a self-employed individual, you have to invest in these things from your pocket.
3) Compressed
A compressed work schedule has pros and cons. On one hand, you’re extending the traditional workday. You might work a 7-to-5 and add two more hours to your workday. In return, you get another day off throughout the week. This extra day off helps workers while an employer is still able to keep the predictability of a traditional office structure.
4) No Schedule
Having no schedule seems like chaos. In some instances, it can be. It’s important to note that no schedule is different from an erratic schedule. The law often prohibits employers from keeping erratic, unpredictable scheduling for employees.
No schedule, by contrast, is the idea that employees can work when they want, often where they want, with no time-keeping. It’s not the hours that matter, but that the work gets done. This is not a strategy to employ for hourly wages but in salaried positions. If the work gets done by a deadline, that’s all that matters.
In some cases, offices are staying open 24/7 — allowing workers to come in when they want. Once the work is done, employees can take off.
This is beneficial, again, for working parents and taking care of one’s personal life. If you want to take a week off, you work harder beforehand to get it all done. This format doesn’t work for every business, but for some, it can be highly beneficial.
What does your ideal work schedule look like? Share in the comments.