Is it time we ditched the traditional 9 to 5? Engineering professionals think so!

Nearly three quarters (71.4%) of workers in the UK engineering sector believe that the traditional 9-5 is an outdated concept, with the majority (75%) admitting that they work better at certain times of day.

This is according to a recent study from CV-Library, the UK’s independent job site.



The survey of 1,200 professionals explored how workers feel about 9-5 working hours, and whether these are still fit for purpose.

The data revealed that the majority (55.7%) of professionals in the engineering 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 the following:

In the morning – 68.3%

In the afternoon – 19%

In the evening –7.9%

Late at night – 4.8%

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, comments: “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 engineering 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 (83.3%) of professionals in the industry believe that all businesses should offer flexible working, and yet only a quarter (26.2%) have the opportunity to work from home when they want to.

Those who do have the option to work from home were asked where they felt they worked best and interestingly, 18.2% said they work better in the office.

A further 36.4% said they worked best at home and the remaining 45.5% said they work just as well in either location.

Biggins concludes: “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.”