In 2012, in the midst of a recession, a labour law reform in Portugal allowed firms to reduce the overtime premium paid to their workers by 50% or more. Until then, overtime premiums were set by law at a relatively high level and could not be cut unilaterally. We analyse matched...

In 2012, a new law allowed firms in Portugal to reduce the overtime premium paid by half. Until then, as in other countries, premiums were subject to a minimum level. We analyse matched panel data, including worker-level (base and overtime) hours and pay, to study the effects of the resulting...

This paper provides a first assessment of the causal impact of the 2018-2021 reform in Korea meant to combat its long working-hour culture. The reform consists of lowering the statutory limit on total weekly working hours from 68 to 52. We apply a difference-in-difference approach in which we...

Definitive bezahlte und unbezahlte sowie transitorische Überstunden sind in Deutschland weit verbreitet und werden als Instrument zur Flexibilisierung der Arbeitszeit genutzt. Dabei haben insbesondere transitorische Überstunden im Zuge der Verbreitung von Arbeitszeitkonten bei Betrieben und...

Increases in standard hours have been a contentious policy issue in Germany. Whilst this might directly lead to a substitution of workers by hours, there may also be a positive employment effect due to reduced costs. Moreover, the response of firms differs between firms which offer overtime and...

In Germany, overtime work is a well-established instrument for varying working hours of employees and is of great importance for establishments as a measure of internal flexibility. However, not all employees are affected to the same degree by a variation of the work effort through overtime...

Mit dem Abbau von Überstunden verknüpfen sich seit langem Hoffnungen auf mehr Beschäftigung. Überstundenabbau ist aber auch im Spannungsfeld verschiedener Interessen von Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmern zu sehen: Weniger Mehrarbeit heißt weniger (zusätzliches) Einkommen, dafür aber...

In Germany, overtime work is a well-established instrument for varying working hours of employees and is of great importance for establishments as a measure of internal flexibility. However, not all employees are affected to the same degree by a variation of the work effort through overtime...