The European Commission began second-phase consultation of social partners at European level as part of its review of the working time directive. It presented a report on the legal implementation of the directive in member states; and it published an independent review of the latest evidence on working time trends and patterns, as well as the social and economic impact of the existing rules in member states.
Source: Reviewing the Working Time Directive: Second-phase consultation of the social partners at European level, European Commission | Implementation by Member States of Directive 2003/88/EC ('The Working Time Directive'), European Commission | Deloitte Consulting, Study to Support an Impact Assessment on Further Action at European Level Regarding Directive 2003/88/EC and the Evolution of Working Time Organisation: Final report, European Commission |
Links: Consultation document | Implementation report | Deloitte report | EC press release | ETUC press release | Telegraph report
Notes: Directive | Consultation responses (first phase)
Date: 2010-Dec
An article examined the 'psychological contract' between line managers and employees in the context of the transition to motherhood and reduced-hours or part-time working. Professional work norms, including working long hours and being ever-available, operated to legitimize the reduction in career development opportunities that accompanied the transition from full-time to part-time work in professionalized occupations.
Source: Penny Dick, 'The transition to motherhood and part-time working: mutuality and incongruence in the psychological contracts existing between managers and employees', Work, Employment and Society, Volume 24 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Sep
A qualitative study explored the nature of quality part-time working during the recession. The experience of reduced hours working during the recession could help human resources teams to 'open up the dialogue' with managers and argue for a trial period of part-time working, especially if these experiences were positive for the business overall.
Source: Clare Lyonette and Beate Baldauf, Quality Part-Time Work: Responses to the Recession, Government Equalities Office
Date: 2010-Apr
A review provided a synthesis of the available evidence on 'quality' part-time work.
Source: Clare Lyonette, Beate Baldauf and Heike Behle, 'Quality' Part-Time Work: A review of the evidence, Government Equalities Office
Date: 2010-Apr
A think-tank report predicted a major shift in the length of the formal working week as a consequence of dealing with key economic, social, and environmental problems. It said that a much shorter working week could help to tackle a range of urgent and closely related problems: overwork; unemployment; over-consumption; high carbon emissions; low well-being; entrenched inequalities; and the lack of time to live sustainably, to care for each other, and simply to enjoy life. Shorter working hours would enable many more people to join the workforce, and allow for measures to reduce damaging levels of inequality.
Source: Anna Coote, Andrew Simms and Jane Franklin, 21 Hours: Why a shorter working week can help us all to flourish in the 21st century, New Economics Foundation
Links: Report | NEF press release | Guardian report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2010-Feb