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Despite the recent increase in shift work and other kinds of non-standard work hours, research on the effects of non-standard work hours on family life and children is lacking. The need for around-the- clock child care has increased but research has not yet been conducted on children’s and parents’ experiences concerning it. The purpose of this study is to contribute to filling these gaps in knowledge by approaching non-standard working hours from the perspectives of parents, children and day care. Since contextual factors, such as the availability of child care, have an impact on families, we compare parents working non-standard hours in Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. 

The research consortium is coordinated by the JAMK University of Applied Sciences. The project leader is Professor Anna Rönkä (University of Jyväskylä, Department of Education) and Professor Marja-Leena Laakso (University of Jyväskylä, Early Childhood Education). Members of the consortium are University of Applied Sciences, University of Jyväskylä and the National Institute for Health and Welfare. The research project runs during 2011 -2014.

The international partners are the University of Utrecht (Department of Cultural Anthropology and Sociology), the Netherlands and the Morgan Centre for the Study of Relationships and Personal Life (University of Manchester, the United Kingdom).