Working more than 35 hours a week? Especially more and more people in their twenties don’t really feel like it, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) concluded today from a survey among graduates. People with a diploma are increasingly choosing to work part-time. And striking: in the years after their studies, women on average only work less instead of more.
The NOS asked followers of NOS on 3 on Instagram how they view full-time work. “Old-fashioned”, it often sounds. “All ‘home chores’ simply do not fit in addition to working full time and taking care of a baby and a dog,” says Fay Geurts. But there are more reasons for her to work part-time: “The workload is so high, especially due to being available all the time, that I need a day to myself.” Then she goes for a walk or cycling, for example. “Into nature.”
‘Do fun things too’
People in their thirties also see the benefits of working less, such as Renée Schmeetz (38). “I think it’s a shame to lose so much time with work,” she summarizes. “I worked full-time before this. But I noticed that I was busy with all the practical things on weekends, such as cleaning. And I also want to do fun things.”
Schmeetz is a copywriter. Since this month she consciously works fewer hours. Her boyfriend also works part time. “I calculated how it would turn out. With the fixed costs it works fine. I have also built up a buffer by working full-time. I will look further in a few months.”
Mara Yerkes, professor of interdisciplinary social sciences at Utrecht University, conducts research into part-time working:
Imme Visser works 28 hours a week: “Totally fine for me. The highest number of hours I’ve ever worked as an employee.” Visser is 33 and has no children with her partner. He in turn also works part-time with 32 hours a week.
Groceries that have become more expensive due to inflation and the high rent are playing tricks on them. “I can’t do everything I want. But I wouldn’t work for it anymore.”
Women only work less in the nine years after graduating, and men work more. Not always because they want to, according to the responses to the NOS call on 3.
“I would like to go to 36 hours over four days. Unfortunately, with the cost of groceries, I have no financial choice to reduce the hours,” says Bram Feenstra about his 40-hour work week. likes to work more than her current 24 hours a week, “But she can’t get more hours from her boss, so I have to keep working 40 hours.”
Lecturer Khuyen Quinn states that as a lecturer, even with a full-time working week, she is barely able to pay the bills. “I’ve been in the minus for a few months this year. I would consider working less, having more time left and then getting the right to care and rent allowance. But that’s not possible either, because I’m in the free rental sector. So I’m stuck.”
So many people work less to have more free time. But even if you work full-time, you still have enough free time, according to 29-year-old Nena. “With those hours, there is enough time left for arranging private appointments, household chores, sports and relaxation. I think this generation should really start working a little more, because that is good for the economy, the job market. With the the current 36 hours is perfectly feasible.”
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- SCP: majority of women continue to work part-time when children are grown
