The survey of 1,200 professionals by CV-Library explored how workers feel about 9-5 working hours, and whether these are still fit for purpose.
The data revealed that the majority (64.9%) of professionals in the manufacturing sector would prefer to work hours that suited their natural pattern and when they work best.
When asked what time of day they are most productive, respondents cited:
- In the morning – 46.8%
- In the afternoon – 27%
- In the evening –16.2%
- Late at night – 8.1%
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, said: “There are ongoing debates surrounding the traditional 9-5 and whether this ‘one size fits all’ approach is still beneficial. It’s clear from the data that manufacturing professionals know their own work patterns and would prefer to tailor their working hours around when they’re at their most productive. If your employer offers flexible working be sure to use this to the advantage of both yourself and the business.
“While a more flexible style of working can be great, it does tend to bring with it issues of work-life balance and doing away with the structured 9-5 could further blur the lines between your work and private life. Should you choose to operate on more flexible hours, it’s vital that you ensure you are sticking to your contracted hours and are not becoming overworked by putting in too much overtime.”
What’s more, the majority (81.8%) of professionals in industry believe that all businesses should offer flexible working.
Those who have the option to work from home were asked where they felt they worked best and, 12.5% said they work better in the office. A further 62.5% said they worked best at home – higher than any other sector – and the remaining 25% said they work just as well in either location.
Biggins concluded: “Flexible working is becoming increasingly popular, and is a factor you should take into consideration when conducting your job search. If you’re in the percentage of those who work better in the office then this may not be an ideal working style for you. But if you know you can be just as productive from work or from home, be sure to look for employers who offer flexible arrangements to best suit your needs.”
Image Credit: Alvimann via Morguefile.com
