Life Is Synchronisation – Possibilities and Forms of Social Participation against the Background of Atypical Working Hours

Abstract

The influence of atypical working hours, i.e. long working hours or working hours outside the usual hours, on health and accident risks is well documented. Less well documented is the relationship between atypical working hours and the opportunities for social participation. In this paper we present the results of a qualitative survey on work-time related impairments of social participation in Austria. The aim of the exploratory study was to identify possible indicators for a future measurement of the impact of atypical working hours on social participation. On the basis of case studies in companies in several sectors, it becomes clear that atypical working time situations and externally controlled flexibility - in the sense of poor planning of working hours - have a particularly negative impact on social participation.