At the beginning of the year, politicians from the Union party ignited a debate over “lifestyle part‑time” but it largely overlooked the interests of both employees and employers. An Allensbach survey published in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” on Saturday supports this view.
According to the survey, 90 % of people working part‑time had already reached a mutual agreement with their employers; only 2 % had had to insist on their part‑time right against their employer’s wishes. Nevertheless, only about a third of respondents understood that the debate was about this small group. Thirty‑nine percent believed it applied to all workers, while a third remained undecided.
The reasons for choosing part‑time work are varied. Respondents could select multiple motivations: 40 % cited concerns about overload, 27 % mentioned childcare and upbringing responsibilities, 14 % referred to caring for relatives, 23 % pointed to health restrictions, and 9 % noted employer requirements.
Interestingly, roughly one third of part‑time workers (31 %) said they wanted extra free time for private hobbies and friends, and one fourth (24 %) said the arrangement did not impose financial constraints. As the Allensbach analysis puts it, these are likely the motives that the ill‑fated debate about “lifestyle part‑time” was intended to address.
