People in high-skilled jobs and supervisory roles are more likely to enjoy control over their working hours, new research from a University expert on work-life balance shows.<\/p>\n
The European-wide study, which looked at the issue of workers\u2019 \u2018schedule control\u2019<\/strong>, i.e flexitime and complete autonomy over their work schedules, found that, in general, disadvantaged labour market groups are the least likely<\/strong> to have access to these family-friendly arrangements<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dr Heejung Chung<\/a>, of the University\u2019s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research<\/a>, also found that where employers offer schedule control it is more likely to be because of performance or work intensity considerations<\/strong>, rather than as a needs-driven provision.<\/p>\n The study also examined the relationship between national level policies and company provision of schedule control<\/strong>. When workers had access to very long leave entitlements, employers did not generally appear to feel any need to provide occupational family-friendly schedule arrangements, even for their high-skilled staff.<\/p>\n On the other hand, countries where there were generous public childcare provision were where workers were most likely to have access to family-friendly schedule arrangements, especially for high-skilled staff.<\/p>\n The research, entitled National-Level Family Policies and Access to Schedule Control in a European Comparative Perspective: Crowding Out or In, and for Whom?<\/em> examined schedule policies using data from 27 European countries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Overall, Dr Chung found that on average across the 27 European countries, only 22% of all workers<\/strong> have access to schedule control.<\/p>\n In Scandinavian countries, along with the Netherlands, workers are more likely<\/strong> to have access to schedule control<\/strong>, with more than 40% benefitting. In countries such as Austria, Germany and Belgium, followed by Estonia, Slovenia and then the UK, at least one in five workers enjoy access.<\/p>\n The study found that there was clear correlation between higher skill and education levels and access to schedule control<\/strong>. In fact, one step change upwards in the skill hierarchy increased the chance of accessing schedule control by around 1.5 times.<\/p>\n Examining other control variables, older workers \u2013 most likely with more experience \u2013 those in supervisory roles, and those with supportive managers<\/strong> are more likely to have access to schedule control.<\/p>\n Those working in job posts that are predominately held by men are less likely to have access to schedule control<\/strong> compared to posts where men and women are equally represented. However, working in posts where women are prevalent is far worse<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The study also found that having a partner, working hours, having an open-ended contract, working in companies with employee representatives, and the gender of one\u2019s boss<\/strong> are all not significant in explaining workers\u2019 access to schedule control.<\/p>\n Entitled National-Level Family Policies and Workers\u2019 Access to Schedule Control in a European Comparative Perspective: Crowding Out or In, and for Whom?<\/span><\/em><\/a>\u00a0is published in the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"