Time Flexibility in European Companies: Establishment Survey on Working Time 2004–2005

By European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Working time arrangements and work-life balance are important issues on the EU political agenda.

In a diverse and fast-changing economic climate, both companies and workers need flexibility. Working time arrangements can have a significant bearing on the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of companies, not to mention the health, well-being and motivation of their employees. In order to reach the Lisbon employment objectives of more and better jobs for everyone, governments are being encouraged to implement policies aimed at achieving more harmony between work and family life.

In general, it is intended that employment rates for women and older workers should increase and policy debate has focused on the steps needed in order for this to happen.

Against this background, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions launched its first Establishment Survey on Working Time (ESWT) in 21 European countries: the 15 'old' Member States of the European Union and six of the new Member States - the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovenia. The survey was a questionnaire based, representative sample survey in more than 21,000 establishments, which aimed to analyse working time arrangements and work-life balance issues at the workplace by interviewing personnel managers and, where available, formal employee representatives. It focused on aspects such as flexible working hours, overtime, part-time work, work at unusual hours, such as shift or night work and weekend work, childcare leave or other forms of long-term leave, and phased or early retirement.

This report addresses the issue of working time flexibility in European companies, which is a key issue in the current labour market policy debate. Due to a lack of comparative data on how companies across Europe address the need for more flexibility in the workplace, this study takes a special interest in whether - and how - European countries differ in their application of flexible working time arrangements. The report seeks to explore the main determinants of the different systems for organising working time in the workplace. It analyses the perceived impact on companies with different working time arrangements on their performance in terms of economic success and employment stability or growth.

This report provides unique insight into the various working time flexibility arrangements currently in place in companies across Europe. We trust it will be a useful contribution towards shaping the policies which seek to improve work-life balance for all workers in Europe.