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Flextime/Flexspace for All in the Organization? A Study of the Availability, Use, and Consequences of Flexible Work Arrangements for Low and High SES Employees in Nine European Countries

Author

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  • Tanja van der Lippe

    (Department of Sociology, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Laura den Dulk

    (Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Katia Begall

    (Department of Sociology, Radboud University, 6525 XZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between employee socioeconomic status (SES) and the availability, use, and consequences for employees of flexible work arrangements (working from home and flexible starting and finishing times). Multi-level analyses based on the European Sustainable Workforce Survey (11,011 employees nested in 869 teams at 259 organizations in nine European countries) reveal a negative relationship between low SES employees and the availability of working from home. Lower-status employees also perceive working from home and flexible work times as less available to them and use these arrangements less than higher-status employees. Findings suggest similar outcomes of use for both groups. We found almost no differences between lower and higher SES employees in how using flexible work arrangements affected performance, commitment, and work–life conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • Tanja van der Lippe & Laura den Dulk & Katia Begall, 2024. "Flextime/Flexspace for All in the Organization? A Study of the Availability, Use, and Consequences of Flexible Work Arrangements for Low and High SES Employees in Nine European Countries," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:13:y:2024:i:4:p:200-:d:1369477
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beauregard, T. Alexandra & Henry, Lesley C., 2009. "Making the link between work-life balance practices and organizational performance," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 25224, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Den Dulk, Laura & Groeneveld, Sandra & Ollier-Malaterre, Ariane & Valcour, Monique, 2013. "National context in work-life research: A multi-level cross-national analysis of the adoption of workplace work-life arrangements in Europe," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 478-494.
    3. Egidio Riva & Mario Lucchini & Laura den Dulk & Ariane Ollier†Malaterre, 2018. "The skill profile of the employees and the provision of flexible working hours in the workplace: a multilevel analysis across European countries," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(2), pages 128-152, March.
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