Regulatory change and work‐life integration in France and the UK

Abstract

PurposeIn this paper the authors aim to consider the impact of regulatory changes on work‐life integration outcomes. Using the cases of France and the UK they seek to explore changes in objective and subjective measures of work‐family conflict.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use data from the European Foundation's European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) to analyse trends in employees' working time and work‐life integration outcomes.FindingsThe authors observe an increase in reported satisfaction with work‐life integration in the UK in contrast to a slight fall in France. The authors also find a reinforcement of the working time norms in France and something of a tentative re‐emergence in the UK. However, against these trends evidence is also found of an enhanced flexibility in the scheduling of hours in both countries with French employees more at risk of changeable schedules.Practical implicationsDownward trends in working time do not necessarily translate into satisfaction with work‐life integration and may create their own tensions and conflicts for employees where there is reduced autonomy. While regulatory change may help shape the working time experiences of employees, the underlying tension between employee and employer‐friendly flexibility highlights the challenges for working time regulation and work‐life integration in different societal contexts.Originality/valueThe paper makes a contribution to the analysis of work‐life integration outcomes by examining both objective and subjective measures using comparable data. The authors underline the need to contextualise the regulation and experiences of work‐life integration in different societal settings.