Employee Opinions on Reducing their Working Week

Although the vast majority of full-time employees would prefer to work less, half of them would only do so for the same wage. Employee opinions of a reduction in their working week depend a great deal on their standard of living, their household structure and their working conditions. Manual and non-manual employees have the hardest working conditions and are more open to the idea of working less. However, their low standard of living means that they are hesitant about taking a cut in wages at the same time. Executives are more reticent about reducing their working week. Yet when they do consider it, they more often accept the idea of little or even no wage compensation. Employees protected by stable employment contracts are more tempted by the idea of reducing their working week, provided their wage remains the same. Working week choices are influenced little by leisure activities or membership of associations.