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1328 Attitudes toward working conditions: are european union workers satisfied with their working hours and work-life balance?
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  1. Nuria Matilla-Santander1,
  2. Cristina Lidón-Moyano1,
  3. Adrián González-Marrón1,
  4. Kailey Bunch1,
  5. Juan Carlos Martín-Sánchez1,
  6. Jose M Martínez-Sánchez1,2
  1. 1Group of Evaluation of Health Determinants and Health Policies, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
  2. 2Tobacco Control Unit, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

Abstract

Introduction Neoliberal economic globalisation has changed the definition of standard employment and this could be affecting work-life balance. The objective of this study is to describe the satisfaction with working hours and satisfaction with work-life balance and their association in the European Union (EU-28).

Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the Flash Eurobarometer 398 among workers of the EU-28 from 2014 (n=13,683). We calculated percentages and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). We also fit a multi-level generalised linear model (GLM) using the Poisson family, in order to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of satisfaction with work-life balance based on working hours. All analyses were stratified for individual, employment and welfare regime country classification.

Results Satisfaction with working hours and work-life balance was 80.62% and 74.48%, respectively, and was significantly higher among women. The highest percentages of satisfaction were found in Nordic welfare regime countries (90.2% and 85.3%, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between satisfaction with working hours and work-life balance (aPR=2.63, 95% CI: 2.28 to 3.04), and the magnitude of the association differed by individual and employment characteristics and welfare regime country classification. The main reasons declared for dissatisfaction were ‘excessive working hours’ (48.7%), ‘shift work’ (27.9%), and ‘inability to influence the work schedule’ (28.3%). Differences were observed according to sex and type of welfare regime.

Conclusion European Union workers are highly satisfied with their working hours and work-life balance, and there is a strong association between satisfaction with work-life balance and working hours. There are still differences between sexes and welfare regimes.The Nordic model of social policies should be considered to improve satisfaction with work-life balance in the rest of the EU-28.

  • Working conditions
  • work-life balance
  • working hours

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