Time for a feminist future: A study on the impact of a 30-hour workweek on women's lives

The issue of working time reduction is far from novel, dating back to the industrial
revolution when weekly work hours surged to unprecedented levels. Since then, West-
ern countries have witnessed a gradual decline in working hours, currently averaging
around 38-40 hours per week. However, this downward trajectory has experienced a
slowdown since the 1980s, with even a resurgence of time allocated to paid work on
household level since the 1970s. The topic of reducing working hours has regained
prominence in recent years. While the main drivers behind this endeavor, such as
workers’ well-being and addressing economic hardships, mirror historical motiva-
tions, feminists have also been active proponents of a shorter workweek to address
gender inequality in the division of paid and unpaid labour. Although this gender-fo-
cused objective has rarely been the primary catalyst for past and present working time
reductions, it remains a crucial consideration. Women have long carried the dual bur-
den of paid and unpaid work, with many opting for part-time employment to jug-
gle their responsibilities, including childcare, caregiving, and housework. A shorter
workweek has the potential to alleviate this burden and establish a working time norm
that better aligns with the realities of women’s lives. Simultaneously, it would afford
men greater opportunities to engage in unpaid/reproductive work, promoting a more
equitable division of labour.
Femma Wereldvrouwen, a feminist organization based in Belgium, presented a pro-
posal for a shorter workweek as a means to address gender inequality in the allocation
of time. Their analyses and proposal built upon a rich legacy of feminist advocacy. In
2019, Femma Wereldvrouwen put their words into action and conducted a year-long
trial, implementing a 30-hour workweek for all full-time employees, while ensuring
their full-time wages remained intact. This trial involved a reduction in weekly work-
ing hours from 36 (34 or 32) to 30, serving as a practical test of their proposal.
This dissertation delves into the impact of the shorter workweek on the predominantly
female employees of Femma Wereldvrouwen, utilizing a mixed-methods approach.
By employing longitudinal survey and time-diary data, as well as conducting in-depth
interviews and focus groups, the study aims to shed light on various aspects of these
women’s lives. It explores their experiences, preferences, and decision-making pro-
cesses concerning their time spent at work and outside of work. In addition to con-
sidering the feminist perspective, the dissertation investigates the temporal aspects
of the shorter workweek. Insights into temporal shifts, as well as the role of tempo-
ral structures and norms in shaping preferences and decisions, are derived from the
time-diary and qualitative data. More specifically, our research examines the organi-
zational aspects of transitioning to a shorter workweek, the workers’ approach to work
and their choices for a specific form of shorter workweek, and the impact on their
personal lives, including relationships and caregiving experiences. Furthermore, our
analyses assesses the effect of the shorter workweek on general well-being, work-relat-
ed well-being, and work-family well-being. By highlighting the experiences of women
and the temporal implications of such a change, this PhD thesis offers valuable insights
into the potential benefits and challenges associated with reducing working hours. The
findings of our research provide a basis for reflection on the implementation of collec-
tive working time reduction and inspire visions of a feminist future where the shorter
workweek plays a vital role