Lyonette, Clare --- "Atypical Working in Europe and the Impact on Work–Family Reconciliation" [2011] ELECD 863; in Busby, Nicole; James, Grace (eds), "Families, Care-giving and Paid Work" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Families, Care-giving and Paid Work

Editor(s): Busby, Nicole; James, Grace

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781849802628

Section: Chapter 2

Section Title: Atypical Working in Europe and the Impact on Work–Family Reconciliation

Author(s): Lyonette, Clare

Number of pages: 21

Extract:

2. Atypical working in Europe and the
impact on work­family
reconciliation
Clare Lyonette

INTRODUCTION
Since the 1970s increasing numbers of women (and particularly mothers)
across Europe, North America and Australia have entered the paid work-
force. A substantial number of men, especially in market-oriented or
`liberal' welfare regimes such as the US and the UK, also work over 60
hours per week on a regular basis (OECD 2005), and married or partnered
men tend to work longer hours than those who are unpartnered (for
example, Biggart and O'Brien 2009). At the same time, many other fathers
and mothers are regularly working `atypical' or `non-standard' hours (for
example, early mornings, evenings/nights and weekends) (Eurostat 2008).
Some parents choose to work at such times to facilitate childcare, for
example, to allow `shift-parenting', but others report little choice in their
working patterns and would prefer to work more regular hours (La Valle et
al. 2002). As many couples with dependent children are now spending more
time at work than ever before and less time at home with other family
members, the impact of long and atypical working hours extends not only
to the individual employee, but also to partners and to children. Any
resulting ill health from conflicting work and family roles also affects
employers, with absenteeism from work stress representing a significant
economic cost (Dewe and Kompier 2008).
This chapter begins by outlining national-level policies relating to work
and family before moving on to examine ...