Part-Time Work and Work Norms in the Netherlands

Abstract

We argue that in the Netherlands, due to the growth of part-time work, work norms have declined. The mechanism behind this norm change is in the changed organization of family life. The increased labour market participation of women has put the traditional organization of family life under pressure. Working mothers in the Netherlands opt for part-time jobs, thus sacrificing career opportunities for family life. Working fathers also have to trade-off hours, because a greater contribution to family life is expected from them. This implies that work norms are supported less by both women and men in their redefined roles than in their traditional roles. The hypotheses that follow from this argument are tested in multilevel regression analysis on the OSA Labour Supply Panel surveys for the period 1988-2002. The tests show that part-time working women and their partners adhere less to the work obligation norm than breadwinners and housewives. Adherence to the work obligation norm among parents has decreased with the growth of part-time work. Among non-parents, support for the norm has decreased too, but less than among parents. Our analyses show that, due to the growth of part-time work, the traditional division of labour is no longer predominant, and, as a result, the traditional work ethic is declining.

Part-Time Work in the Nordic Region II

“…In the article Part-Time Work and Work Norms in the Netherlands (Wielers & Raven 2013), Rudi Wielers and Dennis Raven investigate the effects of the growth of part-time work on work norms in the Netherlands, the country that was labelled the "first part time economy' in the world" (Visser 2002, ref. in Wielers & Raven 2013.…”

“…They find that part-time working women and their partners adhere less to the work obligation norm than breadwinners and housewives, and that adherence to the work obligation norm among parents has decreased with the growth of part-time work (Wielers & Raven 2013).…”

“…Their analyses show that, due to the growth of part-time work, the traditional division of labour is no longer predominant, and, as a result, the traditional work ethic is declining (Wielers & Raven 2013). Against the backdrop of the often politician-and employer-driven argument about the future demographic development (with a steadily growing population of older citizens) and labour shortage in specific sectors, it is interesting that Wieler and Raven argue that, at least in the short run, their findings might imply that there will not be much support among the Dutch population for policies aiming to increase the number of working hours.…”

Employment Patterns, Poverty and Income Inequality

“…As such, some have argued that the Netherlands' previous male-breadwinner model has been replaced by a "one-and-a-half earner model" (Yerkes and Visser, 2006). Initial union resistance to the growth of part-time work in the 1980s subsequently turned to efforts to promote its normalization (Cousins and Tang, 2004;Yerkes and Visser, 2006;Wielers and Raven, 2013). This was achieved progressively through: a 1993 reform that abolished minimum hours of work thresholds for minimum wages, minimum holiday pay and social security; legislation on equal treatment of part-time workers in 1996 (Wet Gelijke Behandeling); and the Working Hours Adjustment Act (Wet Aanpassing Arbeidsduur) in 2000 that gives workers the right to request an increase or decrease in their working hours (Plantenga, 2002;Yerkes and Visser, 2006).…”

Parental Residential and Partnering Transitions and the Initiation of Adolescent Romantic Relationships

“…Dutch adult relationships often take the form of (legalized) nonmarital cohabitation either as a stage before or as a replacement of marriage (Poortman & Mills, ). The Netherlands also has a large proportion of women engaged in part‐time employment (Wielers & Raven, ), with women arranging their employment schedules around their family (Mills & Täht, ). Only a small percentage of Dutch single mothers work full time (Portegijs, Cloïn, Ooms, & Eggink, ), whereas about half of all U.S. custodial parents (the parent with whom the children live) work full time (Grall, ).…”