On the regulation of flexible working hours

Abstract

"The current IAB Statement deals with the motion 'Ensuring good working hours - Strengthening the protective rights of employees - Shaping the digitalisation of the world of work!' (Gute Arbeitszeiten sichern - Schutzrechte der Beschäftigten stärken - Die Digitalisierung der Arbeitswelt gestalten!) (printed document of the NRW State Parliament 17/1665) of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary party in the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia of 9 January 2018. In this motion, the Working Hours Act (ArbZG) of 1994 is discussed along with its function in regulating flexible working hours.<br> The IAB is commenting on the motion on the basis of research results. The Statement begins with a brief overview of the prevalence of selected forms of those types of working hours that deviate from the criterion 'normal working day'. This is done both from the methodological perspective of representative employees as well as from the methodological perspective of representative surveys of establishments. A supplementary excursion deals with studies that examine the changes in the employment of labour as a result of the all-encompassing spread of communications media.<br> Following this in the current Statement, IAB elaborates on empirical studies that analyse whether flexible working hours tend to be applied in a way that is orientated more towards employees or more towards establishments. Finally, against the background of the research results that have been discussed, we address the question of whether the Working Hours Act (ArbZG) can be currently considered in need of reform." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bauer, F. (2018): Zur Regulierung von flexiblen Arbeitszeiten. Öffentliche Anhörung des Ausschusses für Arbeit, Gesundheit und Soziales des Landtags Nordrhein-Westfalen am 2. Mai 2018. (IAB-Stellungnahme 07/2018), Nürnberg, 22 p.