Project description
Evidence and pathways for inclusive working time reform in Europe
Working time reduction (WTR) has become an increasingly topical issue in Europe, amidst ongoing discussions to make labour markets more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. The EU-funded OPTIME project is creating the first comprehensive, multilevel empirical basis for realistic WTR models. It will move beyond small-scale experiments and one-size-fits-all policies. By using both existing data and newly generated insights from research, pilot projects, and experiments in eight European countries, OPTIME investigates the consequences of WTR for employees, firms, equality, and the environment. Collaboration between scholars, policymakers, companies, social partners, and civil society organisations enables the transformation of research results into useful instruments, policy advice, and foresight scenarios for the future.
Objective
Debates on working time reduction (WTR) are accelerating in Europe’s policy and public arenas, reflecting demographic pressures, low growth, and demands for more sustainable labour markets. While WTR promises gains in well-being, equality, and inclusion, evidence remains fragmented, often limited to single-country pilots and one-size-fits-all models such as the four-day week. OPTIME – Opportunities for Time in Employment, Environment, and Equality – addresses this gap by generating the first cross-national, multi-level evidence base on feasible, inclusive, and sustainable WTR models. OPTIME integrates micro-, meso-, and macro-level perspectives across eight European countries, combining secondary datasets, historical reform studies, existing pilot data, new primary data on enablers and barriers, new multi-country pilots, and online experiments. This comprehensive design enables novel modelling of WTR’s impacts on employees, organisations, and societies. Specific attention is given to underrepresented and vulnerable groups (such as women, caregivers, migrants, older and neurodiverse workers) and to environmental effects such as commuting, energy use, and carbon footprints. A core innovation is the co-creation of findings with policymakers, social partners, employers, and civil society through a European stakeholder panel, national workshops, and foresight exercises. These processes ensure that empirical insights translate into actionable policy recommendations, implementation toolkits, and future scenarios. By systematically identifying enablers, barriers, and outcomes, OPTIME will deliver evidence-informed strategies to scale WTR models that enhance resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. Beyond advancing academic knowledge, OPTIME will provide Europe’s first integrated policy framework on WTR, positioning the EU as a global leader in shaping the future of work.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.2 - Culture, creativity and inclusive society
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.2.3 - Social and Economic Transformations
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL2-2025-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9000 St Gallen
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.