Study of the employment effects of reducing working hours, controlling overtime, job sharing, leave, and early retirement in 10 countries found no significant link between job sharing and employment levels. Work time policies need to be considered in a wider context as a way to address high unemployment. (SK)

This article addresses the increase in voluntary reduced work time arrangements that have developed in the United States in response to growing interest in alternatives to the standardized approach to scheduling. Permanent part-time employment, job sharing, and voluntary reduced work time plans are defined, described and, to a limited extent,…