Working Time and Workers' Preferences in Industrialized Countries: Finding the Balance

by Messenger; Jon C.

• ISBN13: 9789221196976
• ISBN10: 9221196976
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-06-22
• Publisher: Intl Labour Organisation

Summary

The gradual reduction in weekly working hours in the first half of the last century, which culminated in the widespread adoption of the 'standard' working week by the 1960s, was grounded in a concern for health and safety and for the preservation of time outside of paid labour. Over the last few decades, however, this progressive standardization of working time has given way to a diversification and individualization in working hours as employers have responded to the competitive pressures of globalization by requiring that productivity be enhanced through changes in working-time schedules. As we enter the new century, a common goal has emerged: the removal or liberaliZation of restrictions on unsocial hours and on the variation of working hours. This books draws together an international team of contributors to examine the process.

Table of Contents

List of figures	p. vii
List of tables	p. ix
List of boxes	p. x
List of contributors	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgements	p. xvi
Introduction: working time in industrialized countries	p. 1
Regulating working time needs and preferences	p. 10
Working-hour gaps: trends and issues	p. 29
Working time patterns among industrialized countries: a household perspective	p. 60
Gender and working time in industrialized countries	p. 108
Working time at the enterprise level: business objectives, firms' practices and workers' preferences	p. 147
Implications for working time policies	p. 195
Bibliography	p. 212
Index	p. 228
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