Heading back to the office: what will the future of 9-5’s look like

In the last year, many businesses and employees have been devastated by the pandemic. Thousands of people have lost their jobs and the financial security that we all assumed came with having a 9-5 job. As the saying goes, out of crisis comes opportunity. This was certainly the case when it came to businesses trying to continue as close to normal as possible while the world was at a standstill. We adapted using zoom calls, google meets and project management platforms such as Trello and Slack. Managers communication and coordination skills were tested and bosses truly had to trust everyone was working when the temptation to stay in bed and do the bare minimum was lingering over our heads. 

Some businesses broke under pressure others grew exponentially and the difference may have been the ability to adapt to the situation and work effectively online. For many businesses, this simply wasn’t possible however some found working remotely provided their staff with more time to enjoy other hobbies instead of doing long and exhausting commutes. It also allowed for more independence and for staff to feel more responsible for the role they play in the company. Often times work can feel like an all-consuming aspect of our lives and we forget to spend time with the ones we love. This has probably been one of the biggest realisations for many people including myself. 

This has led some business to pack up their offices save on rent and go completely remote, something that before the pandemic hit just wasn’t an option for the majority of us.

If we’ve seen how well it works for online business’s why not try and implement remote working on a more permanent basis? 

Well, this is something lots of business are working on. The future of 9-5’s may provide different options such as completely remote working with the help of Zoom or hybrid options where employees come in a few days a week and work remotely the rest of the week depending on their lifestyle needs. Another option that is being discussed is a four day work week with a reduced workday of five hours instead of 8. 

Stephan Aarstol, the CEO of Tower Paddle Boards and author of The Five Hour work week, shared his thoughts on traditional 9-5 workdays and how we could perhaps be more effective. 

“Just because you’re at your desk for eight hours doesn’t mean you’re being productive. Even the best employees probably only accomplish two to three hours of actual work. The five-hour day is about managing human energy more efficiently by working in bursts over a shorter period.”

Problems with a shorter 9-5 workday

 Various companies have attempted the 4 day work week or flexible work with varied results. Some of the problems they bumped into was a decrease in company culture, employees felt less attached to the company as they lacked the work banter and casual chitchat amongst co-workers.

 Employees felt more pressure to get work done in a shorter amount of time.

 Work became less of a priority as staff had more time to think about what they really wanted out of life.  

Learning from the mistakes other businesses have made will help us to do better and create a balance favourable to everyone. 

Solutions for better 9-5 working

• Host team meetings ever so often as well as social events to keep co-workers connected. 

• Give clear deadlines and deliverables so employees know what is expected of them with less confusion and back and forth communication this will certainly help staff meet deadlines and do their best. 

•  It has been said time and time again the better your boss is the more motivated you will feel about your job . One way to make employees more excited about work is to have better management so individuals feel truly supported and appreciated. This could be implemented through checkups meetings and with a chance for employees to voice their opinions and also be celebrated when things go well. 

Overall after experiencing more time and freedom many workers simply aren’t willing to go back to a life of long commutes and dragging days at the office. Businesses will be forced to adapt in order to keep employees happy otherwise we may find an increase in freelancers who are ahead of the curve.