Abstract:
The dissertation will investigate the diffusion of flexible working practices across
Europe and the level of implementation achieved.
Flexible work arrangements include all those practices that that fall under the
umbrella of “smart working” and “work – life balance programs”. They allow more
flexibility in the work schedule and workplace, giving employees and employers the
ability to adapt the time and location of work to their needs. Examples are: part
time work, flexible working hours, working from home and autonomy in
organization of work tasks and methods.
In the first part of the research the level and quality of flexible work arrangements
adopted for employees across different European countries will be analysed and
compared. The second part of the study will focus on the legislative framework that
regulates them both at the European and national level.
The aim of the thesis is to give a comprehensive view of how flexible work is
diffused in Europe, identify relevant differences and also to verify if the patterns of
those development could be linked to the current legislation of the countries
considered. The cross-country comparison of practices in Europe will be based on
the analysis of data collected by the Eurofound in the 6th European Working
Conditions Survey and the study of the European legislation to identify similarities
and differences between country specific norms adopted by EU Members.
