For decades it has been known now what the future demographic development will be like and what radical impact it will leave on the employment structure of companies. Nevertheless, no proper responses have been made by companies to motivate, on the one hand, the Generation Y employees and, on the other hand, women to take over more responsibility and occupy a management position. One of the most important job specifications for the Generation Y and women, however, is the so called work-life balance, so employers must use work-life balance issues as incentives in recruiting.
As a consequence, this thesis correlates both topics and investigates the applicability of the concept of part-time work on the management level. In so doing, the specific focus on managers was chosen due to the fact that companies have a great interest in forming a lasting bond with this kind of highly qualified specialists and, therefore, are required to take better account of their needs regarding the working time management. Furthermore, reductions in working time at management level can help the labour market to reduce the gender segregation by attracting more women to top positions.
The crux of the thesis will therefore be to investigate the practicability of part-time management and to solve the following question: How does the current situation of part-time managers in Europe look like and what should companies do for a successful implementation?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition and explanation of key terms
2.1 Management
2.2 Part-time employment
2.3 Chapter summary
3. Current situation in Europe
3.1 Germany
3.2 The Netherlands
3.3 Switzerland
3.4 Rise of Generation Y
3.5 Demand and satisfaction of managerial part-time work
3.6 Chapter summary
4. Implementation
4.1 Reasons for exploiting part-time employment
4.2 Best practice example: The German insurance company HUK-Coburg
4.3 Models of part-time work
4.3.1 Job sharing
4.3.2 Cadre model
4.3.3 Reduced working days
4.4 Obstacles of part-time work and corresponding solutions
4.5 Success factors and recommendations
4.6 Chapter summary
5. Conclusion
6. Reference list
7. Appendix
Research Objective and Key Themes
This thesis investigates the feasibility and implementation of part-time work models at the management level within European companies, specifically focusing on Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland to address the growing demand for work-life balance.
- Applicability of part-time work for managerial positions
- Integration of Generation Y and female workforce needs
- Comparative analysis of part-time structures in Europe
- Evaluation of implementation strategies like job sharing and the cadre model
- Identification of success factors and organizational obstacles
Excerpt from the Book
4.3.1 Job sharing
In the public sector, job sharing is one of the most common practices for part-time work at the managerial level. Although this practice is not very common in the private sector yet, also here it could be implemented with success (Turkmani, 1998, p. III). Job sharing basically means “the splitting of a position between two or more persons who jointly exercise all professional and managerial tasks and, by doing so, ensures equal responsibility” (Turkmani, 1998, p. 13, own translation). In this model, individual agreements on working time and work-time distribution are possible as long as the full-time position can still be occupied in its entirety.
Additionally, job-sharing offers a whole bunch of chances for a team. For instance, a team can increase their specialized knowledge due to the fact that it can draw on the knowledge and experience of two managers. This consequently has a positive impact on the productivity, quality of work, motivation, commitment, work-life-balance, and, finally, job-sharing managers represent each other in case of absence. This is especially cost-saving as it does not matter whether one of the two leaders is absent for either a short or long period: the other person is still there and, thus, the continuity of the work is ensured.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the motivation for the study, highlighting the need for work-life balance due to changing demographics and the rise of Generation Y.
2. Definition and explanation of key terms: Explores fundamental management theories, specifically those of Henry Fayol, and defines part-time employment within different professional contexts.
3. Current situation in Europe: Analyzes the prevalence of managerial part-time work in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, while discussing the impact of the Euro crisis and the changing workforce.
4. Implementation: Provides a practical framework for implementing part-time models, including specific methodologies like job sharing and a case study of HUK-Coburg.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes findings and suggests that despite challenges, part-time management is a strategic necessity for sustainable corporate success.
Key Words
Part-time management, work-life balance, Generation Y, job sharing, cadre model, organizational culture, female executives, leadership, workforce demographics, labor market, human resource management, management consulting, flexibility, employment legislation, European labor market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis explores the viability and implementation of part-time work arrangements for managers in Europe, examining how companies can attract and retain talent by adapting to modern work-life balance needs.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
Key themes include the shift in demographics due to the rise of Generation Y, gender equality in leadership positions, economic benefits of flexible work, and specific organizational models for implementation.
What is the primary research goal?
The research aims to determine the current state of part-time management in Europe and provide actionable recommendations for companies to successfully implement such alternatives for their managers.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work utilizes a combination of literature analysis, examination of European statistical data (EUROSTAT), and a qualitative case study of the German insurance company HUK-Coburg, supplemented by an expert interview.
What is the main subject matter of the implementation chapter?
This chapter analyzes the reasons for seeking part-time work, introduces three concrete models (job sharing, cadre model, reduced working days), and outlines obstacles alongside strategies for their resolution.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Core keywords include Part-time management, work-life balance, Generation Y, job sharing, leadership, flexibility, and organizational culture.
How does the 'cadre model' benefit organizations?
The cadre model allows a manager to reduce working hours and income, enabling the company to hire an assistant, which aids in succession planning and offers a smoother transition to retirement for senior staff.
Why is HUK-Coburg featured as a case study?
HUK-Coburg serves as a best-practice example, as they have actively implemented over 700 part-time models and are currently extending these to the management level.
What is the "copy-cat effect" in the context of part-time work?
It describes the phenomenon where successful part-time managers act as role models, inspiring subordinates and other executives to adopt similar flexible working arrangements, thereby normalizing the practice.
- Citar trabajo
- Jan-Philipp Krämer (Autor), 2014, Part-time management in Europe. The current situation and recommendations for the implementation, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/310576
