Industrial relations

Regulations to address work–life balance in digital flexible working arrangements

Report
Published
2 July 2020
pdf
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Authors: 
Vargas Llave, Oscar; Weber, Tina

Key findings

  • Telework and ICT-based mobile work (TICTM) can help to improve the work–life balance of employees, but it also has disadvantages. For example, existing limits on working hours and rest periods included in the European Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) are more difficult to enforce in TICTM arrangements.
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  • Telework and ICT-based mobile work (TICTM) can help to improve the work–life balance of employees, but it also has disadvantages. For example, existing limits on working hours and rest periods included in the European Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) are more difficult to enforce in TICTM arrangements.
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  • Recording the working time of TICTM workers can be challenging; however, it is important because such workers are more vulnerable to working long hours. Only a few European countries have legislation that covers this issue specifically.
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  • National-level regulations for TICTM workers generally focus on promoting the benefits of remote working rather than protecting workers against possible negative effects on work–life balance and health. Only Belgium, France, Italy and Spain have legislation that includes the right to disconnect.
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  • National-level regulations relating to the work–life balance of TICTM workers vary in content and coverage. An EU-level initiative could be developed to protect the work–life balance and health of workers, and to ensure fairer competition.
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  • It is estimated that teleworking might be the normal form of work for at least 30% of the working population in Europe during the COVID-19 crisis. The findings in this report may provide a foundation to improve future teleworking and other flexible working time arrangements.
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Abstract

Developments in information and communication technology (ICT) have been among the key drivers of change in working life over the past two decades. Specifically, telework and ICT-based mobile work (TICTM) exemplifies how digital technology has led to more flexible workplace and working time practRead more

Developments in information and communication technology (ICT) have been among the key drivers of change in working life over the past two decades. Specifically, telework and ICT-based mobile work (TICTM) exemplifies how digital technology has led to more flexible workplace and working time practices. However, the ability to work anywhere and at any time can lead to greater work intensification, competition and work-on-demand. If this is not explicitly addressed, it threatens to override the advantages that ICT-based flexible working brings to work–life balance. As part of Eurofound’s extensive research into the impact of TICTM on working conditions and on work–life balance, this report aims to provide policymakers with ways to address new challenges in the world of work and to serve as a reference for future initiatives in relation to digitalisation, working time and work–life balance.

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  • Full report

    Number of Pages: 
    46
    Reference No: 
    EF19046
    ISBN: 
    978-92-897-2103-5
    Catalogue: 
    TJ-01-20-409-EN-N
    DOI: 
    10.2806/03528
    Permalink: 
    eurofound.link/ef19046
    Catalogue info

    Regulations to address work–life balance in digital flexible working arrangements

    Authors: 
    Vargas Llave, Oscar; Weber, Tina
    Topics: 
    Working time; Work organisation; Working conditions; Work-life balance; New forms of employment; Collective bargaining; Agreements; Industrial relations; Teleworking; Labour and social regulation

    Available formats

    • Download full reportPDF
    Cite this publication as: 

    Eurofound (2020), Regulations to address work–life balance in digital flexible working arrangements, New forms of employment series, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

  • Tables and graphs

    Table

    • Table 1: Legislation governing the recording of working time for teleworkers and remote workers

    Graphs

    • Figure 1: Share of workers with flexitime schedules and share of workers who undertake TICTM
    • Figure 2: Share of workers undertaking TICTM and reporting a poor work–life balance (with and without children)
    • Figure 3: Share of workers in the EU27 and the UK undertaking TICTM and working in free time (at least several times a month)
    • Figure 4: Legislation and agreements linking TICTM and work–life balance
    • Figure 5: Presence and nature of legislation on TICTM and its link to work–life balance
    • Figure 6: Coverage of regulations that include TICTM (linked to work–life balance)
    • Figure 7: Presence of legislation to record and monitor the working time of remote workers, 2019

Research carried out prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union on 31 January 2020, and published subsequently, may include data relating to the 28 EU Member States. Following this date, research only takes into account the 27 EU Member States (EU28 minus the UK), unless specified otherwise.

This report presents the results of research conducted prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe in February 2020. For this reason, the results do not take account of the outbreak.

Part of the series

  • New forms of employment

    This series reports on the new forms of employment emerging across Europe that are driven by societal, economic and technological developments and are different from traditional standard or non-standard employment in a number of ways. This series explores what characterises these new employment forms and what implications they have for working conditions and the labour market.

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