Posted on 12/21/2011 6:07:22 PM PST by Darren McCarty
The traditional eight-hour workday may soon be the exception rather than the rule. New evidence shows that we're reaching a tipping point in terms of workplace flexibility, with businesses seeing the wisdom of allowing employees -- young employees especially -- to work odd hours, telecommute, and otherwise tweak the usual 9-to-5 grind.
One of the top 12 trends for 2012 as named by the communications firm Euro RSCG Worldwide is that employees in the Gen-Y or "millennial" demographic -- those born between roughly 1982 and 1993 -- are overturning the traditional workday.
The Business and Professional Women's Foundation estimates that by 2025, 75% of the global workforce will be Gen-Y. As early as next year, this group of younger Americans will already comprise 60% of the employees at companies such as Ernst & Young. And increasingly, companies creating workplace flexibility programs because it makes good business sense, not in the least because that's what their employees demand.
Gen-Y is spearheading this change because they don't want the same work environment their parents had. Between new technology and global workplace dynamics, companies are implementing flexible work arrangements for everyone, inclusive of Gen-Y. A recent Vodafone UK survey illustrates that 90 percent of employers enable work flexibility instead of sticking to traditional hours.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
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.
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.
What industry are you in?
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.
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.
Another CEO, treasurer, chief cook, and bottle washer. :)
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.
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