Positive and Negative Application of Flexible Working Time Arrangements: Comparing the United States and the EU Countries

This chapter focuses on flexible working time arrangements and presents flexible work

schedule practices as they vary among individuals, organisations and nations, explaining

reasons for observed variations. It highlights the need to focus on specific types of flexible

work options; distinctions between availability, access, and use; as well as formal and

informal use practices. We show that, depending on the metric used, flexibility can be seen as

widely available, or as seriously constrained or limited. If structured as employee-centred,

flexible work arrangements can improve work-family harmonisation. Creating contexts with

flexible work options that can enhance employee well-being requires attention at the

organisational level, with cultural contexts that support both formal and informal

implementation, as well as national level policies that regulate the terms under which work

hours can be, and should be, open to adjustment by employees.