The number of hours worked, the way in which they are organized, and the availability of rest periods can significantly affect not only the quality of work, but also life outside the workplace. Working hours and the organization of work and rest periods can have a profound influence on the physical and mental health and well-being of workers, their safety at work and during the transit from their homes, and their earnings. Working time also has significant implications for enterprises in terms of their performance, productivity, and competitiveness. Decisions on working time issues can also have repercussions for the broader health of the economy, the competitiveness of industry, levels of employment and unemployment, the need for transport and other facilities, and the organization of public services.

Working time, through measures such as short-time work/work sharing measures and flexible working hours are key tools that can be used to counter the threats posed by economic crises, while telework can reduce the social and economic impact of pandemics such as COVID-19. Therefore, it is not surprising that working time issues in one form or another are at the heart of most labour market reforms and evolutions taking place in the world today.