A best case scenario? Non-manual part-time work and job-sharing in UK local government in the 1990s

Abstract

Local authorities in the UK have been described as 'model employers' of part-time and job-share employees, with the needs of employees themselves, particularly women with family responsibilities, acting as the primary driver for the use of reduced hours working patterns. To investigate how far this 'exemplar' label applied in practice, and to what extent this overcame the well-known drawbacks of reduced hours working patterns, the causes and consequences of working reduced hours amongst professional, managerial and administrative staff were investigated in a London borough in the mid-1990s. It was found that the 'model employer' label was applicable, but it was under threat jkom an emerging emphasis on a demand-led, service-driven use of reduced hours work. It is argued that there is a strong business case for making more creative use of reduced hours work synthesising 'supply-side' and 'demand-side ' needs, and that this change in approach will therefore be counterproductive. KEY WORDS familyReduced hours work; part-time work, job-sharing; local government; work and RESUMEN Para 10s empleados a tiempo parcial y 10s empleados a puesto compartido, las autoridades municipales del Reino Unido se han dejinido como 'empleadores ejemplares ' , y a que han sido las necesidades de 10s mismos empleados que han dado el empuje principal a1 us0 de sistemas de trabajo a horarios reducidos. Para averiguar cuanto se aplica en la practica la dejinicidn de 'ejemplar', y hasta quk punto esto supera las conocidas desventajas de 10s sistemas de trabajo a horarios reducidos, se investigaron las causas y las consecuencias del trabajo a horarios reducidos entre personal profesional, gerencial, y administrativo de un municipio de Londres a mediados de 10s afios 1990. Se encontrd que se merecia la calificacidn de 'ejemplar', pero que se veia amenazado por un knfasis naciente en el us0 del trabajo a horarios reducidos mcis relacionado a la demanda y a las exigencias de servicio que a las necesidades de 10s empleados. Se sostiene que existe un fuerte argument0 comercia1 a favor de hacer mas us0 creativo del trabajo a horarios reducidos, con lo cual se sintetiza las necesidades de oferta y demanda, y que este cambio de enfoque por lo tanto serci contraproducente.

Adding University to work and life: the work–life balance and well-being experiences of women who combine employment, HE learning and care of the family

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Part-Time Work, Wages, and Productivity

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