France’s 35-Hour Week: Attack on Business? Win-Win Reform? Or Betrayal of Disadvantaged Workers?

Anders Hayden
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Anders Hayden: Department of Sociology, Boston College, haydenan@bc.edu

Politics & Society, 2006, vol. 34, issue 4, 503-542

Abstract: France’s 35-hour workweek is one of the boldest progressive reforms in recent years. Drawing on existing survey and economic data, supplemented by interviews with French informants, this article examines the 35-hour week’s evolution and impacts. Although commonly dismissed as economically uncompetitive, the policy package succeeded in avoiding significant labor-cost increases for business. Most 35-hour employees cite quality-of-life improvements despite the fact that wage moderation, greater variability in schedules, and intensification of work negatively impacted some—mostly lower-paid and less-skilled—workers. Taking into account employment gains, the initiative can be considered a qualified success in meeting its main aims.

Keywords: working hours; 35-hour week; France; employment policy; labor policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:34:y:2006:i:4:p:503-542

DOI: 10.1177/0032329206293645

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