HR leaders could be underestimating the number of their employees who want a more structured 9-to-5 routine. According to a recent Gallup poll, CHROs believe a larger portion of their workforce prefer that their work and life are blended throughout the day than is actually true.
The Gallup poll revealed that they expected as little as 24% of their white-collar workers to prefer 9-to-5 schedules, when in fact, 45% preferred this style. Similarly, when it came to front-line employees, CHROs anticipated that only 54% of their employees would want their work and life to be separate, but 62% preferred it, in reality.
In addition, Gallup found that — despite the perception of HR professionals — the working population overall were split nearly equally between wanting a 9-to-5 working schedule and a more blended mix.
Impacts on Workplace Dynamics
The boundaries between work and life have become increasingly blurred, especially with the rise of remote and hybrid work models. As a result, it’s crucial for employers and HR professionals to acknowledge and adapt to these changes in the modern work environment.
Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) highlighted that 95% of workers said it is very (61%) or somewhat (34%) important to them to work for an organization that respects the boundaries between work and nonwork time. Yet only 68% of respondents reported that they have enough flexibility to keep their work and personal lives in balance.
The company said that these differences have “real-world consequences for getting work done in an organization.” In fact, when employees are mismatched with their preferred work style, they are:
- less likely to feel they are treated with respect
- less likely to be engaged
- more likely to be burnt out at work
- more likely to be looking for a new job
As such, leaders should be aware of their employees’ preferences for work schedules and more understanding of those who prefer clear separation between work and life, the company added.
