About
No single model fits every context
Working-time reduction can take different forms, including shorter working weeks, reduced total hours, flexible scheduling, job sharing or compressed working patterns.
Its effects may vary considerably according to the nature of work, organisational design, sector, local labour-market conditions, gender roles, skills needs, national policy and the interests of those involved.
Current debates and evidence leave stakeholders with four connected gaps:
Research findings on productivity, competitiveness, well-being, work intensity, retention, gender equality and environmental effects can be mixed or context-specific. Stakeholders need a clearer evidence base that identifies both common patterns and the conditions that make particular outcomes more or less likely.
Many discussions focus on a single model, such as a four-day week, despite the fact that organisations, sectors and countries have different operational needs, workforce profiles and regulatory environments. Stakeholders need a way to assess WTR that reflects their own circumstances rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Decisions on WTR are shaped not only by measurable factors such as costs, productivity and staffing, but also by the expectations, values, beliefs and power relationships of employees, employers, trade unions and policy makers. Stakeholders need a robust way to understand how these material and discursive forces interact.
Employers, trade unions, policy makers, SMEs and professional associations need accessible methods to evaluate options, bring relevant stakeholders into constructive dialogue, identify risks and opportunities, and design or adapt WTR initiatives responsibly.
Who is it for?
Policy makers
Employers & SMEs
Trade unions & employee representatives
Professional associations & HR
Researchers
Training providers
What we are delivering
Through new research, a European survey, an Acceptance Model and a practical toolkit, WOTAM will provide evidence and practical guidance to support constructive dialogue and tailored approaches to working-time reduction across Europe.
Understanding the context
Two frameworks showing the societal and organisational forces that can enable or hinder working-time reduction.
Measuring acceptance
A European survey identifying attitudes, barriers and enabling conditions across sectors and regions.
Assessing feasibility
The WOTAM Acceptance Model, bringing together evidence to help stakeholders assess their own context.
Putting evidence into practice
An interactive toolkit, good-practice guide and policy recommendations for organisations and policy makers.