The role of social norms in the flexibility of working times and workplaces

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Martin Abraham; Dr. Stefanie Wolter
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 558162563

This project investigates the normative foundations of employment relationships (ERs), focusing on how social norms influence flexibility in work arrangements. While ERs are traditionally viewed as negotiated exchanges between employers and employees, existing research shows that normative principles significantly shape these interactions. However, most studies concentrate on specific topics like wages and fairness, lacking a comprehensive framework for understanding the normative basis of ERs. This project aims to fill that gap by developing a general framework rooted in three core normative principles: fairness, reciprocity, and authority. These principles are empirically tested in the context of work flexibility, a critical issue in modern workplaces. Flexibility in work arrangements, including working hours, overtime, and remote work, is essential for both organizations and employees but often leads to conflicting interests. Employers may seek flexibility to adjust to market demands, while employees, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities, desire flexibility to balance work and personal life. Since legal and collective agreements provide limited regulation on flexibility, social norms become crucial in resolving potential conflicts. The project will explore three types of flexibility: flexible working hours, overtime, and remote work, analyzing how social norms impact these arrangements. Focusing on norms within the workplace, the research employs a combination of survey data and experimental designs. Data from the Linked Personnel Panel (LPP) and the Online Panel for Labour Market Research (IAB-OPAL) will be used to provide a representative picture of the German workforce. These large-scale surveys will be complemented by factorial surveys using vignettes to examine the effects of different contextual conditions on social norms and their impact on flexibility in ERs. The project aims to provide both theoretical and empirical insights into the normative underpinnings of flexible work arrangements. The findings will be relevant not only for academic research but also for companies and policymakers. Understanding how social norms influence flexibility in work arrangements is particularly important in the current context of labor shortages and the increasing demand for flexible work options, as highlighted by recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges in Europe. The results are expected to offer valuable guidance on how to align employer and employee expectations regarding flexibility, thereby enhancing workplace harmony and productivity.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants