---
title: "Survey Uncovers Jobseeker and Employer Views on 40-Hour Work Weeks"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/0d311eb2-7baf-4852-9e10-2c2bd3795284
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/survey_uncovers_jobseeker_and_employer_views_on_40hour_work_weeks.html
author: "Kerry Pipes"
category: "General"
published: 2023-06-19T08:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T20:31:40.542Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/7700_plate.jpg
---

# Survey Uncovers Jobseeker and Employer Views on 40-Hour Work Weeks

**TL;DR:** A survey by The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals found that American jobseekers and employers may reconsider traditional 40-hour work weeks if productivity remains at or exceeds current levels. The survey showed that nearly half of jobseekers would prefer a flexible start time, and most feel they would be more productive with a non-traditional schedule.

*By Kerry Pipes, originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-06-19. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/survey_uncovers_jobseeker_and_employer_views_on_40hour_work_weeks.html).*

## Story

American jobseekers and the companies that employ them might just reconsider non-traditional work schedules - as long as productivity remains at, or exceeds, current levels. That’s according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. For decades, 40-hour work weeks have been a staple of American society.

But recent years have brought flex schedules and working from home into the mainstream. Nearly half (40%) of the jobseekers surveyed said they would pick an 8-hour day with a flexible start time, if given a choice. Another 1 in 5 (18%) said they would prefer a compressed schedule over a traditional 9 to 5 job.

If given the ability to create their own work schedule, most feel they would be more productive (56%) or they would have about the same level of productivity (39%). Companies may also be embracing the idea of non-traditional work schedules, but with a bit of caution. If given the ability to design their own schedules, hiring managers feel employees would have about the same level of productivity (53%) or even be more productive (35%).

However, three-quarters of hiring managers (75%) say they have some concerns about their company offering flexible work hours, including decreased productivity (30%), increased distractions (29%), delayed communications (28%), and an inability of employees to collaborate (28%). As for the traditional 40-hour work weeks; two-thirds of jobseekers (66%) say they will soon be a thing of the past.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- General (sector)
- Kerry Pipes (person)
- Express Employment Professionals (company)
- Harris Poll (company)
- productivity (topic)
- work schedules (topic)
- flexible work hours (topic)
- jobseeker views (topic)
- employer views (topic)

---
Originally reported by Kerry Pipes, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/survey_uncovers_jobseeker_and_employer_views_on_40hour_work_weeks.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/0d311eb2-7baf-4852-9e10-2c2bd3795284).