Just 59% of employees with irregular hours and 61% of those with regular on-call duties are satisfied with their working arrangements, while nearly half of part-time workers are regularly asked to work beyond their contracted hours, according to the latest Labour Climate Index from the Chamber of Labour of Upper Austria.

“Such arrangements, often seen as disadvantageous from the workers’ perspective, are common in industries like tourism, healthcare, retail and for bus drivers, where wages are generally lower,” said social researcher Daniel Schönherr at a press conference on Tuesday.

Weekend work and overtime are also significant sources of frustration. In sectors like tourism and healthcare, where weekend work is often the norm, employee satisfaction with working hours tends to decline.

“Irregular working hours, in particular, lead to dissatisfaction, as they disrupt personal leisure time,” Schönherr added. Moreover, one in five employees reported being asked to work overtime, further contributing to job dissatisfaction.

Reinhard Raml from the market research institute IFES highlighted the impact of irregular working time arrangements on both mental and physical health.

“Stress levels are considerably higher for those with irregular working hours compared to other time models,” Raml said. Employees under pressure are more likely to experience health issues such as digestive problems, sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and back pain. Raml also cautioned that the effects of ten-hour working days, although popular among those advocating for a four-day work week, should not be overlooked.

Job satisfaction is also a concern for part-time workers, who often face the added pressure of working extra hours. According to the survey, 27% of part-time workers expressed a desire for more hours.

“Employers must facilitate the transition from part-time to full-time work,” said Andreas Stangl, President of the Chamber of Labour of Upper Austria. He also called for better compensation or time off for overtime. “Employers should face stricter penalties for violations of working time regulations, and workers should be entitled to a sixth week of holiday earlier,” Stangl said.