Working time organization: influences in work-family balance and career

Abstract

The theme of working time is central to social research, in the sense of promoting knowledge that can influence the elaboration of socioeconomic intervention policies. Since the beginning of this century, working time has become one of the main elements of European employment policies. In the context of the increase of international competition between companies - and the need to adapt business and people to the new demands in terms of flexibility - there is a profound transformation of working conditions, with the growing of working time unpredictability. So, to this extent, time can be a structuring element in the organization of work, upon which performance at work often depends. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of an increase in working time on work-family balance and to assess their impact on the career paths of women. Using 30 interviews with working women's in the Portuguese banking sector, we identify the main constraints on working time and their repercussions on reconciling work and family life, especially on professional promotions and access to top positions in companies. In the results, we focused the influences of working time in reconcile work-family life, as well in the achieving of equal career opportunities between women and men.