2005
This document is linked to :
Lien social et Politiques ; no. 54 (2005)
© Lien social et Politiques, 2005
Diane Tremblay et al., « Les âges de la vie et les aspirations en matière de temps de travail », Lien social et Politiques, ID : 10.7202/012865ar
While many studies have found increasing difficulties in achieving work-life balance, others have doubted there is any lack of time. How can we understand this seeming contradiction ? This article analyses changes in working time and hours of work, assessing them with the data from a large Canadian survey (Workplace and Employee Survey). It finds that between 1999 and 2002, working hours were increasingly stable but at the same time a greater percentage of workers under 45 worked shifts. The improvement in stability is thus cancelled out. From 1999 to 2002, fewer people worked a reduced workweek. The compressed workweek increased among those under 25 and over 55, but declined among the other age groups, those most likely to have difficulties balancing work and family. The data also show that more people want to increase their hours of work than reduce them, a pattern that is even stronger in 2002. The minority wanting to reduce their working time seek greater leisure, except for those aged 35-44 who want less hours because of family responsibilities.