Work: It’s Not How – It’s When

STAMFORD – A recent Fairfield County Information Exchange/SACIA survey of work hours and work schedules found that working 9 to 5 no longer has the same meaning.

In the survey, only 16 percent of companies said their regular working hours were 9 to 5. The most consistent response from the survey was 8:30 to 5 representing 24 percent. An 8 to 5 schedule came in third,  with a 15 percent response rate, and 9 percent of the respondents’ regular work hours were 8:30 to 5:30. The “gray area” seemed to be reflected in fluctuations from the standard 9 to 5, falling within the 7:30 am to 6:30 pm range. An interesting side note was that 5 percent said they worked longer hours Monday through Thursday to have a shorter day on Friday, year round.

Also measured in the survey were companies’ summer and holiday schedules. Of particular interest, only one in four companies altered their work hours during the summer.

For the year 2000 the standard holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) were recognized by at least 95 percent of the respondents, with Presidents’ Day observed by 61 percent and the day after Thanksgiving observed by 86 percent of respondents. Additional holidays that companies indicated they observed were Martin Luther King, Jr Day at 16 percent, Good Friday at 30 percent and Columbus Day at 16 percent.

In addition to offering the traditional holidays, over half of the companies provided some flexibility for their employees. Sixty-three percent of firms said they offer extra days (varying from one to four days) off for employees to choose how to use, for religious holidays, or to add to vacation days.

The survey was done by the Business Council of Southwestern Connecticut, SACIA.