Millennials Feel Differently About Starting Work at 9am

Senior Life and Trends Reporter

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Millennials are most likely to think that a 9 a.m. work start is too earlythan other generations, an exclusive poll conducted for Newsweek has revealed.

An online poll of 1,500 eligible voters in the U.S.conducted on December 8, 2023 by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek, revealed that nearly a quarter (24 percent) of millennials felt that 9 a.m. was too early to commence work. This was more than the 15 percent of Gen Z, 11 percent of Gen X and 2 percent of Boomers and the Silent Generation.

Previous polls have shown that millennials, classed as those aged 27-42, were more likely to think that their employers should pay for their commute, and that they should be promoted within the first two years of working for a new company.

Infographic - Survey — Survey results from the poll asking U.S. adults what time they think they should start work.

While millennials were the most likely to say that 9 a.m. was too early, the majority, 51 percent still considered it as the ideal time to start work, and 21 percent said it was too late to start work.

Some 45 percent of Gen Z—ages 18 to 26—said that they thought 9 a.m. was the right time to start work, with 15 percent saying it was too early.

Regarding those aged 43-58, otherwise known as Generation X, 47 percent said that it was the right time to start work, with 11 percent saying that it was too early.

The stark contrast could be observed in those aged 59 and older, known as Baby Boomers or the Silent Generation. These responses reflected perhaps a more traditional outlook, with 2 percent of respondents from this generation saying they believe 9 a.m. is too early to start work, and 47 percent saying it was too late. Unsurprisingly, nearly half said it was the right time.

Historically, American business hours have adhered to the 9 am to 5 pm standard. However, a 2017 Thrillist survey had noted a trend of earlier arrivals, with many workers reporting to the office between 7:30 am and 8:14 a.m. But that was before Covid...

Woman at desk, tired — A file photo of a woman sitting working at a desk, tired, with coffee. Nearly a quarter of millennials think working at 9 a.m. is too early, a survey found. Kateryna Onyshchuk/Getty Images

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, flexible working has become more common with a survey of 25,000 Americans in spring 2022 finding that 35 percent of job holders can work from home full-time, and 23 percent want more flexible work options—including choosing the hours they work.

Numerous employers are shifting the way they offer flexiblity to their employees, when it comes to hours and location—with some even moving to a four-day work week.

Have you had a workplace dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.