Choosing to Work Part-Time – Combinations of Motives and the Role of Preferences and Constraints
Journal article, 2020

This article aims to contribute to the understanding of motives for part-time work and discuss the role of preferences and constraints by studying combinations of motives for part-time work in a case where the scope for preferences is great. The data was derived from a survey of full-time employees in a Swedish municipality who have opted to work part-time with lower salary. Eight groups of part-time workers with different combinations of motives were identified using cluster analysis. Although formally all of these employees were voluntarily working part-time, to a greater or lesser extent the preference for part-time can be understood as an accommodation to constraints for all of the eight clusters. Even though the motives were complex, for many, part-time work was a strategy to cope with a high workload in relation to their own health and capacity.

voluntary part-time

motives for part-time work

work-life balance

work time

Author

Sofia Björk

University of Gothenburg

Jörgen Larsson

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Erik Lundberg

University of Gothenburg

Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

20022867 (eISSN)

Vol. 5 1 7

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Work Sciences

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified

Social Work

DOI

10.16993/sjwop.92

More information

Latest update

4/21/2023