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“Fördelen är att jag kan återhämta mig” - En kvalitativ studie om upplevelser av arbetstidsförkortning och dess relation till work-life balance

Neij, Julia LU and Mörk, Jenny (2025) SOCK20 20242
Department of Sociology
Abstract (Swedish)
The thesis describes and analyzes individuals'
experiences of reduced working hours with retained
salary, as well as how this could potentially enable an
improved work-life balance. It also investigates how
participants experienced pros and cons with reduced
working hours. The topic is relevant due to the ongoing
societal debate about whether the current 40-hour
workweek in Sweden should be reconsidered. The
thesis adopts a hermeneutic approach, conducting
qualitative interviews that have been interpreted and
shaped the results, which are analyzed using theory. The
theories focus on the different conditions that
individuals and workplaces have that affect work-life
balance, as well as how recovery and well-being... (More)
The thesis describes and analyzes individuals'
experiences of reduced working hours with retained
salary, as well as how this could potentially enable an
improved work-life balance. It also investigates how
participants experienced pros and cons with reduced
working hours. The topic is relevant due to the ongoing
societal debate about whether the current 40-hour
workweek in Sweden should be reconsidered. The
thesis adopts a hermeneutic approach, conducting
qualitative interviews that have been interpreted and
shaped the results, which are analyzed using theory. The
theories focus on the different conditions that
individuals and workplaces have that affect work-life
balance, as well as how recovery and well-being can be
achieved in working life. The results show that
participants experience increased well-being and
recovery, and consequently, a better work-life balance
with the introduction of reduced working hours.
Participants report feeling less stressed, having more
time for recovery, and being better able to distance
themselves from work during their free time. The results
are limited by the fact that only four interviews were
conducted but still confirm much of what previous
research has shown. For future research, it might be
interesting to focus on a specific target group or
professional category. It could also be relevant to
examine how third parties, such as care recipients, are
affected by staff working reduced hours. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Neij, Julia LU and Mörk, Jenny
supervisor
organization
course
SOCK20 20242
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Work-life balance, reduced working hours, recovery, sustainable working life
language
Swedish
id
9184270
date added to LUP
2025-02-10 16:29:36
date last changed
2025-02-10 16:29:36
@misc{9184270,
  abstract     = {{The thesis describes and analyzes individuals' 
experiences of reduced working hours with retained 
salary, as well as how this could potentially enable an 
improved work-life balance. It also investigates how 
participants experienced pros and cons with reduced 
working hours. The topic is relevant due to the ongoing 
societal debate about whether the current 40-hour 
workweek in Sweden should be reconsidered. The 
thesis adopts a hermeneutic approach, conducting 
qualitative interviews that have been interpreted and 
shaped the results, which are analyzed using theory. The 
theories focus on the different conditions that 
individuals and workplaces have that affect work-life 
balance, as well as how recovery and well-being can be 
achieved in working life. The results show that 
participants experience increased well-being and 
recovery, and consequently, a better work-life balance 
with the introduction of reduced working hours. 
Participants report feeling less stressed, having more 
time for recovery, and being better able to distance 
themselves from work during their free time. The results 
are limited by the fact that only four interviews were 
conducted but still confirm much of what previous 
research has shown. For future research, it might be 
interesting to focus on a specific target group or 
professional category. It could also be relevant to 
examine how third parties, such as care recipients, are 
affected by staff working reduced hours.}},
  author       = {{Neij, Julia and Mörk, Jenny}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“Fördelen är att jag kan återhämta mig” - En kvalitativ studie om upplevelser av arbetstidsförkortning och dess relation till work-life balance}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}