Working time options over the life course : changing social security structures

Abstract

How can employees manage better the conflicting time constraints which surface in the middle of their life (the so-called 'rush hour of life') -time for having and raising children, caring for dependants, investing in lifelong learning, building a house and progressing in their career?How can they avoid a further shrinking of their working life as a result of later entry into and earlier exit from the labour market, with the ensuing negative consequences for their quality of life and for the economic sustainability of social security systems?With the Lisbon Agenda, the European Union has committed itself to a fundamental reform process.This includes, among other things, a restructuring of its labour markets, social security systems and working time regimes.In the light of this policy orientation, the Foundation has undertaken an exploration of the implications arising from such a re-shaping of time, income and social security provisions over an individual's life course.A life course policy perspective explores the possibilities of saving and spending time and income over the life course, with the possibility of shifting larger amounts between various life phases.Additional policy instruments cover tax, education, housing and training.Using this life course approach, it is possible to develop more sophisticated and targeted policies to cope with new and diverse work biographies through a restructuring of working time arrangements and related income and social security provisions.It is clear that a life course approach can open up a new intellectual arena for a discussion of the reform of labour markets and social security systems within the remit of the Lisbon Agenda.We trust that this report can add some substance to the on-going debate on the necessary social innovations in European societies at the beginning of the third millennium.