Learning English For Work Work in the future: Should we work fewer hours?
Nov 17, 2025
Heejung Chung, a Professor of Work and Employment at King's College London and author of The Flexibility Paradox, dives into the world of flexible working. She discusses various flexible working options and highlights the benefits for diverse groups including caregivers and older workers. The conversation shifts to how better work-life balance can enhance productivity but also reveals the flexibility paradox: many end up working more. Chung shares insights from four-day workweek trials, showcasing maintained productivity and improved wellbeing.
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What Flexible Working Means
- Flexible working covers varied schedules, condensed hours, annualised hours and remote or hybrid work arrangements.
- Heejung Chung defines these as changes to time and place boundaries that give workers choice over when and where they work.
Flexibility Reduces Exclusion And Boosts Focus
- Flexible work reduces exclusion by helping people with caring duties, disabilities and fluctuating illnesses participate in employment.
- Heejung Chung argues flexible hours improve wellbeing and productivity because less stressed workers focus better.
Flexibility Can Increase Work Hours
- Flexible working can paradoxically increase total workload and blur work-life boundaries.
- Heejung Chung's research found flexible workers often work longer hours and think about work during free time.
