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Alternative work schedule interventions in the Australian construction industry: a comparative case study analysis

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  • Helen Clare Lingard
  • Keith Townsend
  • Lisa Bradley
  • Kerry Brown

Abstract

Project-based construction workers in the Australian construction industry work long and irregular hours and experience higher levels of work-to-family conflict and burnout than office-based workers, giving rise to an interest in alternative work schedules as a means of supporting work-life balance. Alternative work schedules were implemented in four case study construction projects in Australia. Interventions differed between projects, with two implementing a compressed work week, and the others introducing reduced hours schedules (one of which was optional). Data were collected from each case study project, using various combinations of focus groups, surveys, interviews and daily diary collection methods. The results were mixed. The compressed work week appears to have been favourably received where it was introduced. However, waged workers still expressed concerns about the impact on their weekly 'take-home' pay. Attempts to reduce work hours by changing from a six- to a five-day schedule (without extending the length of the working day between Monday and Friday) were less favourably received. Waged workers, in particular, did not favour reduced hours schedules. The results confirm the existence of two distinct labour markets operating in the Australian construction industry and markedly different responses to alternative work schedules, based upon whether workers are waged or salaried. The results clearly show that attempts to improve work-life balance must take the structural characteristics of the industry's labour markets into consideration in the design of interventions. The impact of alternative work schedules is likely to be moderated by institutional working time regimes within the construction industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Clare Lingard & Keith Townsend & Lisa Bradley & Kerry Brown, 2008. "Alternative work schedule interventions in the Australian construction industry: a comparative case study analysis," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(10), pages 1101-1112.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:26:y:2008:i:10:p:1101-1112
    DOI: 10.1080/01446190802389402
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aydogan Ulker, 2006. "Do Non-standard Working Hours Cause Negative Health Effects? Some Evidence from Panel Data," CEPR Discussion Papers 518, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohammad hossein Mahmoudi Sari, 2017. "An Empirical Study on Human Resources Management in Construction Department of EPC Contractors in Petroleum Industries," Proceedings of Business and Management Conferences 5607807, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
    2. Mohammad Tanvi Newaz & Helen Giggins & Udara Ranasinghe, 2022. "A Critical Analysis of Risk Factors and Strategies to Improve Mental Health Issues of Construction Workers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Albert P. C. Chan & Yang Yang & Tracy N. Y. Choi & Janet Mayowa Nwaogu, 2022. "Characteristics and Causes of Construction Accidents in a Large-Scale Development Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, April.

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