DIMENSIONS OF WORKING TIME AND HARDSHIP AT WORK: RISK DETECTION AND SUGGESTED ACTIONS

Abstract

In France, time is officially considered as a factor
of strain at work since the Act No. 2010-1330 of 9
November 2010 relating to the reform of pension
schemes. The objective of this study is twofold. First,
it is to identify which elements related to working
time are deemed in the literature and by management
and unions as risk factors for strain at work. Second, it
is to analyze the practices contemplated by the social
partners to limit these risks. To meet these objectives,
a pluralist methodology, quantitative and qualitative,
is used. The content analysis of 100 agreements and
strain plans (APAP) and the study of five business
cases seeks to 1- determine the importance of time
among the risk factors identified by management and
unions; 2- identify the working time-related dimensions perceived as major risk factors; 3- identify the
practices proposed to limit them. Finally, the qualitative study confirms that the perception of time as
a risk factor is real but dependent on the context of
each company. It also shows the complexity of acting
on the time factor to limit strain at work because of
the conflict between two approaches (preventing
or compensating for strain) and time horizons
(employees’ preference for short- or long-term
perspectives).