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  • Time
  • Work-life balance
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First results on working time and work–life balance in European companies

These are the first results of a large-scale survey in 21 EU Member States. Interviews were conducted at company-level in more than 21,000 companies. See also press release on flexible working time.

Background

Between autumn 2004 and spring 2005, the Foundation carried out a comprehensive survey on working time and work–life balance in more than 21,000 European workplaces. Countries covered include the former 15 Member States of the European Union (EU15) and six of the new Member States (the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Latvia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia). Both personnel managers and – where available – employee representatives were interviewed. The survey is representative for all establishments with 10 or more employees, and covers both the private and public sector.

Objectives

• To find out to what extent and why companies use different working time options
• To canvas the opinions of managers and workers’ representatives on working time arrangements
• To gain an insight into current working time policies and practices, as well as work-life balance issues in European companies
• To complement existing Foundation data and research on working time - largely based on surveys of individual workers and on literature reviews.

The survey covered:

• Parental leave
• Early and phased retirement
• Flexible working time arrangements
• Overtime
• Part-time work
• Company childcare facilities
• Shift-work and work at unusual hours

Key findings on flexible working time

• Flexible working time arrangements are in operation in almost half (48%) of workplaces with 10 or more employees in Europe.
• The degree of working time flexibility varies greatly between EU countries. For example, working time arrangements allowing the accumulation of hours are practised in more than 50% of companies in Finland and Sweden, but in only about 10% to 15% in Greece, Portugal or Cyprus
• Some 61% of managers state that higher job satisfaction results from the introduction of flexible working time arrangements.
• A better adaptation of working hours to the workload is reported by 54% of managers.
• Lower absenteeism (27%) and a reduction in paid overtime (22%) are other positive effects mentioned by managers.
• Employee representatives confirm the assessments of managers in those workplaces where both were interviewed - see chart below.

Effects of the introduction of flexible working time regimes

Survey methodology

• Telephone interviews were carried out in more than 21,000 workplaces in 21 EU Member States
• The companies were randomly selected
• A total of 21,031 managers and 5,232 employee representatives were interviewed
• Fieldwork was coordinated by TNS Infratest Sozialforschung, Germany

Results

A detailed overview report on the findings of the survey was published in 2006. Further in-depth analysis of selected topics will follow.

For further information, please contact Camilla Galli da Bino, Information Liaison Officer.