4 ms·

This is obviously intended mostly as an opening salvo in negotiations, and has little chance to become reality. But there are similar ideas that seem almost lik

This is obviously intended mostly as an opening salvo in negotiations, and has little chance to become reality. But there are similar ideas that seem almost like common sense, yet are pretty rare in reality: A right to reduce hours to, say, 50% minimum could seriously improve quality of life for many. Of course you'd need some sensible limitations, i. e. a restriction to larger companies where any fluctuations would average out. But I've seen quite a few workplaces succeed with such a model. "Sabbatical" programs (get 85% of your pay for 7 years, with the last year paid but free of work) have even less impact on work.

ghaff 9y ago
One of the challenges is that the cost of a lot of benefits would stay the same even if someone worked a 20 hour week and was paid 50% of their full-time salary. So you're left with potentially higher employee costs, cutting the salary more than 50% to work half-time, or cutting out benefits for part-time workers.
- carlmr 9y ago
  This doesn't really make sense. They would be paying out the same before taxes, just spread out over more years. What you get as an employee might even be higher because taxes are progressive. This is of course assuming a European social system where health insurance etc. is taxes, so they're just a percentage of salary, not a fixed cost.
  - skgoa 9y ago
    Employers do have fixed costs per employee. E.g. office space, a desk a computer, accident insurance etc. Fewer employees working more hours each is cheaper than more employees working fewer hours. Even paying me 1.5x for overtime hours turns out to be financially beneficial for my employer once you figure in fixed costs.
germanier 9y ago
Germany already has the right to reduce working hours (for companies with over 15 employees). Employers need to cite a very good reason to refuse the request. However, you don't have the right to ramp up yours hours later on (but if there is an open vacancy later, you need to be preferred).

ghaff 9y ago

One of the challenges is that the cost of a lot of benefits would stay the same even if someone worked a 20 hour week and was paid 50% of their full-time salary. So you're left with potentially higher employee costs, cutting the salary more than 50% to work half-time, or cutting out benefits for part-time workers.

carlmr 9y ago
This doesn't really make sense. They would be paying out the same before taxes, just spread out over more years. What you get as an employee might even be higher because taxes are progressive. This is of course assuming a European social system where health insurance etc. is taxes, so they're just a percentage of salary, not a fixed cost.
- skgoa 9y ago
  Employers do have fixed costs per employee. E.g. office space, a desk a computer, accident insurance etc. Fewer employees working more hours each is cheaper than more employees working fewer hours. Even paying me 1.5x for overtime hours turns out to be financially beneficial for my employer once you figure in fixed costs.

germanier 9y ago

Germany already has the right to reduce working hours (for companies with over 15 employees). Employers need to cite a very good reason to refuse the request. However, you don't have the right to ramp up yours hours later on (but if there is an open vacancy later, you need to be preferred).