On average, Austrians want to work 32.7 hours per week. These should be spread over 4.3 days, according to a current study by the Linz opinion research institute IMAS. For 78 percent of respondents, work-life balance is “very” or at least “somewhat important.”
1028 people aged 16 years and older participated. The amount of desired weekly working time varies depending on the level of employment. Austrians who work full-time generally want a 35-hour working week, while part-time workers want 26.5 hours. Only about one in three people (30 percent) want to work at least 35 hours a week.
Slightly more people (35 percent) can imagine working from home every day. This share is especially high among 16 to 34 year olds (57 percent). Overall, the majority (54 percent) reject working from home, although around one in ten people did not provide any information about this. Those who can imagine working from home usually want to do so two days a week (33 percent).
Restaurants must be open on Sundays
Another focus of the research was the Sunday opening. 41 percent indicate “hardly a preference” in this regard, 40 percent “have a preference.” What is especially important for those surveyed is that restaurants are open on Sundays.
The service point must be open all day on weekdays and sometimes also on Saturdays. Respondents also want the opportunity to visit cultural and recreational facilities at the weekend.
In recent years, the call for shorter working hours has become increasingly louder. A 4-day working week is being tested again and again in projects, but the Austrian government is not yet convinced (see video above).
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
