Millennials are Ending the 9-to-5 Workday. Finally.

Job site CareerBuilder found that 60 percent of employees think a 9-to-5 workday is a thing of the past.  “Employers are concerned about acquiring and retaining great talent, and one way they can do that is by offering flexibility and making changes to how and when employee report to work,“ says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.  She went on to say that these options help an employee’s quality of life and productivity, and can boost loyalty with their employer.

As I think about this topic, I can’t help but wonder how many senior leaders have the flexibility and appetite for change, which would allow such a shift.  The vast majority of leaders who I have worked with like to be in control and physically see their employees working.

Then again, maybe leaders don’t have much of a choice.  Millennials – the largest generation in the workforce – have taken businesses by storm and seem to be calling the shots.  They are redefining many things, including how, when and where we work.  And if a workplace does not meet their needs, they don’t think twice about quitting. 

The morale of the story?  As an employer, if you do not jump on the bandwagon and offer flexibility as it relates to office hours and mobility, you risk losing out on the best and brightest talent.  Additionally, based on everything I know about employee engagement, there’s a good chance that the 9-to-5 rule is disengaging employees who stay. 

What Can I Do?  Approach HR with this data and champion doing away with a 9-to-5 workday.  Your employees and shareholders will thank you, as we all know that you are only as good as the talent you recruit and retain.  Take a cue from Millennials – call the shots and act if your workplace does not embrace flexible work arrangements.

 Jill Christensen is an employee engagement expert, best-selling author, and international keynote speaker. She is a 2017 Top 100 Global Employee Engagement Influencer, authored the best-selling book, If Not You, Who? Cracking the Code of Employee Disengagement, and works with the best and brightest global leaders to improve productivity and retention, customer satisfaction, and revenue growth. Jill can be reached at +1.303.999.9224 or  jill@jillchristensenintl.com