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Sustained Effects of Flexible Working Time Arrangements on Subjective Well-Being

Author

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  • Ekaterina Uglanova

    (Institute of Psychology)

  • Jan Dettmers

    (MSH Medical School Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences and Medical University)

Abstract

The article addressed the impact of a transition to two flexible working time arrangements, employee- and employer-oriented, on subjective well-being (measured by job satisfaction and satisfaction with leisure time) from a longitudinal perspective. The study investigated which of three patterns of well-being, i.e., stability, recovery, or chronic strain/long-term improvement, are associated with these transitions. To address this question, the study used data from eleven waves (2003–2013) of the German Socio-Economic Panel. Fixed-effects analyses indicated that the well-being of individuals who switched to the employer-oriented flexible time arrangement followed a chronic strain pattern (women) or adaptation pattern (men). The effect of the transition to an employee-oriented flexible time arrangement is not unanimous: women appear to profit from this arrangement in the long run in terms of increased satisfaction with leisure time, whereas men experience deterioration in satisfaction with leisure time, followed by adaptation. At best, the effect of this transition on job satisfaction is short-lived for both genders.

Suggested Citation

  • Ekaterina Uglanova & Jan Dettmers, 2018. "Sustained Effects of Flexible Working Time Arrangements on Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 1727-1748, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:19:y:2018:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-017-9894-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-017-9894-6
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mohamed Mohiya, 2024. "An investigation into employees’ factors of flexible working hours (FWH) for productivity in Saudi: a mixed qualitative triangulation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Amina Amari & Mohamed Mousa & Walid Chaouali & Zohra Ghali-Zinoubi & Narjess Aloui, 2023. "Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Unpacking the Effects of Flexitime and Flexiplace: a Study on MENA Region," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1333-1352, December.
    4. Giorgio Piccitto & Aart C. Liefbroer & Tom Emery, 2022. "Does the Survey Mode Affect the Association Between Subjective Well-being and its Determinants? An Experimental Comparison Between Face-to-Face and Web Mode," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3441-3461, October.
    5. Nils Backhaus, 2022. "Working Time Control and Variability in Europe Revisited: Correlations with Health, Sleep, and Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Thomas Leoni, 2019. "Fehlzeitenreport 2019. Krankheits- und unfallbedingte Fehlzeiten in Österreich – Die flexible Arbeitswelt: Arbeitszeit und Gesundheit," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 62103.

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