Flexible Working Time Models in the Service Industry Research Project Flexible Working Time Models in the Service Industry Author: Lucía Pich-Aguilera Ribas Advisor: Herbert Shields June 2020 Flexible Working Time Models in the Service Industry Abstract ii Flexible Working Time Models in the Service Industry In this project, a heuristic approach is designed so as to find the best configuration of working time models in the service industry, always focusing on the employee’s preferences. In order to do that, the project will first study a conceptualization of the working time models. Only the ones that are flexible will be considered when drawing the solution. Then, an evaluation concept will be developed which will consider on the one hand, the characteristics that best describe a company and on the other hand, the economic and ergonomic effects of implementing each working time model. This evaluation concept will analyze every working time model separately. The analysis has been made by carrying out a survey with different HR managers from the service industry. And finally, a solution is proposed. Index iii Flexible Working Time Models in the Service Industry 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 2. Concept ............................................................................................................. 3 2.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................3 2.2. Working time history ........................................................................................................4 2.3. Working time conflict .......................................................................................................5 3. Role of Human Resources in the configuration of working time models ............. 7 4. Conceptualization of working time models ......................................................... 8 4.1. Depending on the contract ................................................................................................8 4.1.1. Part-Time ............................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1.2. Full-Time ............................................................................................................................................... 9 4.2. Flexible or ‘Agile’ working time models ...........................................................................9 4.2.1. Depending on the contract ................................................................................................................... 10 4.2.2. Flexible working time models ............................................................................................................. 14 5. Flexibility of each working time model ............................................................ 23 5.1. Flextime .......................................................................................................................... 23 5.2. Flexible work schedule .................................................................................................... 23 5.3. Compressed workweek ................................................................................................... 23 5.4. Shift work ....................................................................................................................... 24 5.5. Annualized hours ............................................................................................................ 24 6. Classification of the employee’s role in their private lives ................................. 25 7. Evaluation concept for the working time models .............................................. 32 7.1. Part 1 .............................................................................................................................. 32 7.1.1. Service delivery requirements.............................................................................................................. 32 7.1.2. Available Capacity ............................................................................................................................... 34 7.1.3. Number of employees .......................................................................................................................... 35 7.1.4. Employees preferences considering their social roles in their private lives ......................................... 36 7.1.5. Graphic explanation for the first part ................................................................................................... 36 7.2. Part 2 .............................................................................................................................. 37 7.2.1. Ergonomic factors ................................................................................................................................ 37 7.2.2. Economic factors ................................................................................................................................. 39 7.2.3. Graphic explanation for the second part .............................................................................................. 40 8. Analysis of the flexible working time models with the evaluation criteria ......... 42 8.1. Analyzing working time models with Part 1 ................................................................... 42 8.1.1. Flextime ............................................................................................................................................... 46 8.1.2. Flexible work schedule ........................................................................................................................ 51 8.1.3. Compressed workweek ........................................................................................................................ 55 8.1.4. Annualized hours ................................................................................................................................. 58 8.1.5. Shift work ............................................................................................................................................ 64 iv Flexible Working Time Models in the Service Industry 8.2. Analysis of working time models with Part 2 .................................................................. 69 8.2.1. Flextime ............................................................................................................................................... 69 8.2.2. Flexible work schedule ........................................................................................................................ 71 8.2.3. Compressed workweek ........................................................................................................................ 72 8.2.4. Annualized hours ................................................................................................................................. 74 8.2.5. Shift work ............................................................................................................................................ 76 9. Solution development ...................................................................................... 78 10. Conclusions and future prospects .................................................................... 79 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 80 References .............................................................................................................. 81 APPENDIX 1: Survey ............................................................................................ 87 APPENDIX 2: Table to be filled by the employer .................................................... 90 Figures Index v Flexible Working Time Models in the Service Industry Figure 1: Gliding Schedule (Handbook on Alternate Work Schedules, n.d)................................ 17 Figure 2: Variable Day Schedule. Monday and Wednesday: 30-45 minutes of break (Handbook on Alternate Work Schedules, n.d). .............................................................................................. 17 Figure 3: Variable Week Schedule. Monday and Wednesday: 30-45 minutes of break (Handbook on Alternate Work Schedules, n.d). .............................................................................................. 18 Figure 1: Graphic explanation for the first part of the evaluation concept. (Self-elaboration) .... 37 Figure 2: Graphic explanation for the second part of the evaluation concept. (Self-elaboration) 41 Table Index Table 1: advantages and disadvantages of part-time (Heathfield, 2019). [11] ............................... 8 Table 2: advantages of telecommuting with regards to the organization (Doyle, 2020). ............. 11 Table 3: disadvantages of telecommuting with regards to the organization and the employees (Roderick & Jelley, 1990). ............................................................................................................ 11 Table 4: advantages of phase retirement with regards to the organization and the employees (Parker, 2020 & SHRM and AARP, 2006)................................................................................... 12 Table 5: disadvantages of phase retirement (Parker, 2020). ......................................................... 12