Work–Life Balance and the Demand for Reduction in Working Hours: Evidence from the British Social Attitudes Survey 2002

Abstract

Work-life balance policies aimed at reducing working hours are often assumed to be of particular interest to workers with family responsibilities such as young children. Although workers in Britain report the kind of time-stress envisaged by the debate over a 'long-hours culture', there is little relationship between workers' family situation and preferences for working fewer hours. Women workers' hours already reflect family commitments to some extent, while families with young children may need the income levels that only substantial working hours bring. Conversely workers without family commitments may have more capacity to swap income or career progression for increased leisure time. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd/London School of Economics 2005.

The Underemployed: Evidence From the UK Labour Force Survey for a Conditionally Gendered Top-down Model

“…This was consistent with the evidence over the limited effect of gender on overemployment (MacInnes, 2005). Even so, underemployed women wished to have significantly longer extra hours than men (Stier & Lewin-Epstein, 2003).…”

“…ISSN 2329-9150 2014 More evidence over the top-down propensity came from the task/job nominators. Compared to lower ranking occupations, higher ones significantly reduce underemployment among both male and female workers -whilst enhancing overemployment (MacInnes, 2005). This is much contributed to by a demand swing in the British economy from lower to higher skills since the beginning of the recession.…”

Britain’s Labor Market Under the Blair Governments

“…Families with young children, often thought to be those with the strongest wish to reduce hours worked, do not express a strong wish to do so. Evidence from the British Social Attitudes Survey indicates there is no significant relationship between family situation and perception of time-stress at work (McInnes 2005). The priority of many families is to increase income, even if it requires working longer hours.…”

Non Standard Work Practices and Its Impact on Children Development, Family Functioning and Health and Safety Concerns in a 24/7 Economy

“…In this respect, appropriate government policies to protect workers against excessively long working hours should be implemented in order to establish a necessary condition for achieving the goal of decent working time. This is because, the reduction of regular long working hours include positive impacts on workers' physical and mental health, improved workplace safety, and increased labour productivity due to reduced fatigue and stress; higher levels of employee job satisfaction and motivation; and lower rates of absenteeism (Cooper, 2000;MacInnes, 2005;Booth and Van Ours, 2005;Marting and Pixley, 2005). Therefore, organisations adopting the 24/7 culture should ensure that employees work in favourable working conditions in order to reduce the substantial health disruptions in their lives associated with long working hours as outlined by various scholars (Golden, 2003;Tucker and Rutherford, 2005;Gadrey et al, 2006;Artazcoz et al, 2009;Courtemanche, 2009).…”