The Impact of Reduced Working ...

In the world of business and employment, companies sometimes face economic, technical, or structural circumstances that necessitate temporary changes in employees' working hours. This situation, which may include a collective and temporary reduction in regular working hours, raises many questions about how it affects the classification and legal status of employees.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Employees

It is important to clarify that employees who are affected by a collective and temporary reduction in their regular working hours for economic, technical, or structural reasons are not considered part-time employees. Part-time employees are those whose working hours are consistently less than the standard hours agreed upon in regular employment contracts. Therefore, even in the case of reduced working hours, these full-time employees retain their status as full-time workers.

Reasons for Reduced Working Hours

The reasons that drive companies to reduce working hours can be varied and include:

Economic Reasons: Such as financial crises affecting the company's ability to pay full salaries.

Technical Reasons: Such as technological updates that may require time to adapt to.

Structural Reasons: Such as restructuring the company to improve efficiency and competitiveness.

Potential Impacts

The reduction of working hours can have various impacts on both employees and the company:

On Employees: Employees may feel instability and anxiety about their job future, but at the same time, it may provide them with additional time for professional development or rest.

On the Company: Temporary reduction may help maintain the company's financial continuity and avoid layoffs, thereby enhancing the company's long-term stability.

Conclusion

In the end, reducing working hours remains a temporary measure aimed at overcoming difficult circumstances, and employees and companies must work together to get through this period with flexibility and understanding. Employees who experience a temporary reduction in working hours remain full-time employees, thereby retaining their earned rights and benefits.