“I am no longer just a victim of my circumstances”: Social workers’ experience of working time reduction in relation to perceived well-being

Sammanfattning

Reduced working hours have gained increasing attention as a possible way to improve employee well-being. This study explored Swedish social workers’ experiences of working time reduction (WTR) related to their well-being. By using a qualitative method, data were collected by conducting seven semi-structured interviews with Swedish social workers and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis generated four themes: perceived control of one’s life and increased enjoyment, improved recovery and health (with complex experiences of stress), influences on relationships for better or worse, and change in workload and increased motivation. The findings are discussed in terms of how social workers perceived enhanced well-being, with maintained workload amid a more restricted timeframe, in regard to working time reduction. Rather than putting WTR and well-being in terms of reduced working hours, organizational conditions such as workload, recovery, collegial support, and possibilities for influence appear central in shaping how WTR is perceived. Keywords: Working time reduction, perceived well-being, social worker, social services