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Drawing on case studies from France, Germany, and China, this book argues that the dynamic interactions between time and autonomy have fundamentally reshaped the evolution of work. Jens Thoemmes details how time autonomy transitioned from early efforts to reduce working hours to today's complex debates about managing work time. Initially focused on reclaiming time from employers during the nineteenth century, time autonomy has broadened to encompass how work integrates into overall social time. Beginning in the late 1960s, new tools like flexitime, time-savings accounts, and telecommuting began aligning employee aspirations with production demands, marking a shift towards more flexible work arrangements. Placing work environments from France, Germany, and China in comparative perspective, this book explores the way time autonomy varies in different workplaces and socioeconomic contexts as well as the conditions, opportunities, and risks involved.
List of contents
Chapter 1: What Time Autonomy Entails
Chapter 2: A New Approach From the 1960s: Flexitime
Chapter 3: An Emblematic System in France and Germany: The Time Savings Account
Chapter 4: Time Autonomy in China's Industries
Chapter 5: Teleworking since the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Way Forward?
About the author
Jens Thoemmes is research professor at CNRS, affiliated with the Centre d’Études et de Recherches Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP) and research chair for work, employment, and organization at Taylor’s University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
