title: Flexible work hours, health and well-being in the European Union: preliminary data from a SALTSA project.
abstract: Demand for flexible work hours (FWH) is increasing in Europe aimed at increasing the number of production hours on one hand, and, on the other, reducing individual working hours and/or increasing autonomy and control on them. In view of the lack of knowledge of the effects of FWH on health and safety, we started a pilot project, funded by the Joint Programme for Working Life Research in Europe (SALTSA), aimed at: a) comparing the most relevant national legislation and how the EU Directive 93/104 "concerning certain aspects of working time" has been implemented in the member States; b) reporting prevalence and trend of FWH in Europe according to the three EU Surveys on Working Conditions carried out in the last decade; c) collecting practical examples of innovative FWH; d) evaluating their impact on health and safety in relation to work sectors, job demands, social life, aging and gender. Consequent actions are going to include information and consultancy for pertinent authorities and social parties involved, as well as training programmes for Union officials and similar groups concerning the organisation of FWH according to ergonomic principles.
authors.affiliation: University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akerstedt
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nachreiner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baltieri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Folkard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frings Dresen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gadbois
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grzech Sukalo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harma
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kandolin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silverio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simoes
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data