Flexibility and security over the life course

Abstract

Rapid progress in new technologies, increased competition due to globalisation, changing consumer demand and growth in the service sector have all had a huge impact on production methods and work organisation.These new trends reflect the transition from a relatively standardised work organisation structure, employment contracts and working time patterns toward more flexible and more diversified models, leading to an increasing variety of company practices regarding human resources, time allocation and time management.This shift towards de-standardisation of employment contracts and diversification of working time arrangements is driven by companies' requirements for greater flexibility and adaptability to market constraints.Ageing of the European population, increasing labour market participation of women, prolonged education and changes in the way households now allocate their time and income -all these trends trigger the need for more flexibility for employees, too.In the interest of improving their work-life balance, workers need more choices regarding working time arrangements, especially during the 'rush hour' of their life course when working, caring and education pressures come together.However, at the same time, they expect to have an adequate level of security as to their employment, income and career advancement.EU policy has addressed the issue of flexibility and security.In its 'Integrated guidelines for growth and jobs' (Lisbon Agenda), the Commission calls on Member States to promote labour market flexibility together with employment and income security.It highlights the importance of developing synergies to bring together flexible contractual and working time arrangements, active labour market policies, life-long learning, modern social security systems and social dialogue.Such synergies have the potential to increase competitiveness, create better jobs, strengthen social cohesion and spread the benefits of more open and flexible labour markets to all citizens.This report summarises the main findings from a research project which set out to examine the longterm effects of the ongoing trend towards greater flexibility in employment contracts and working time.It builds on earlier Foundation research into the flexibilisation of working time over the life course.It first looks at how national policy and social dialogue at national level has influenced the levels of flexibility and income and employment security in European countries.Then it shows the prevalence of forms of flexible employment contracts and working time in companies and the impact on the individual's career development, income and employment security.We trust that this report, which follows on from extensive empirical analysis of flexibility and security over the life course, can add some substance to the on-going debate on the necessary social innovations in European societies at the beginning of the third millennium.