Abstract
The "new economy" is characterized by increasing levels of nonstandard employment. A significant proportion of employees work very long hours, work with high intensity, or have long commutes to work. Also, many workers struggle to secure adequate, stable employment or good quality jobs, and work evening and night shifts or work multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. This special issue examines the consequences of the new economy for the wellbeing of family and children. The studies included in this special issue address the impact of parents’ nonstandard work schedules (shift work), long work hours, temporary employment, and long commutes to work on parental and child health and wellbeing, relationship satisfaction, work-family balance, and the division of labour.
Highlights
Recent decades witnessed significant changes in when we work, with an increasing share of people working evenings, nights, and weekends
Many workers struggle to secure adequate, stable employment or good quality jobs, work evening and night shifts, or work multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. This special issue examines the consequences of the new economy for the well-being of families and children
The average daily commuting time in Europe varies between 26 minutes in Portugal and 49 minutes in the UK (Gimenez-Nadal et al 2020)
Summary
Recent decades witnessed significant changes in when we work, with an increasing share of people working evenings, nights, and weekends (so called “shift work” or “nonstandard work schedules”). Non-standard employment – such as part-time work, temporary employment or contract work – has become widespread in recent decades. The average daily commuting time in Europe varies between 26 minutes in Portugal and 49 minutes in the UK (Gimenez-Nadal et al 2020). These labour market trends have raised concerns about its impacts on workers and their families. Research on the impact of nonstandard employment, non-standard work schedules, and commuting to work on family wellbeing and child development remains sparse and much of this work has been conducted in the US, with relatively little research in Europe and other world regions.
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