Abstract
Unusual working hours are increasingly prevalent in most European Union countries. However, the variable and irregular nature of such working hours, compared to traditional lifestyles, amplifies the difficulties of structuring family and professional life, as conventional care offerings cannot meet the needs of parents who work early in the morning, late at night or weekends. This article reports on research conducted by the CNAF on the issue of unusual working hours and focuses on the study of four innovative approaches (in their experimental stage) which develop a home care offer before and after conventional custody services operate. The authors offer some considerations on the concept of «unusual or flexible working hours » , the ensuing care requirements and «care arrangements » , as a combination of formal and informal resources applied by families.