ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to examine the systems themselves, so that a broader understanding of the 'social reasoning' governing employment flexibility in companies can be achieved. It discusses two systems of compensated short-time working which are still in use in two neighbouring economic partners, but in which the institutional frameworks and the professional relations systems are very different. The chapter shows that the concrete conditions appertaining to negotiation and implementation of this system from one country to another and from one region to another are even more varied than a simple examination of the legal and contractual standard might lead one to assume. In Europe, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Spain and France all make use of short-time working in one form or another. Regulations were introduced covering the use of overtime, the first temporary work agencies were created and arrangements were first formulated for compensated reductions of working hours.
