Categorical distinction between freelancing–self-employment–entrepreneurship in the study of shortened working week: a methodological aspect

The article suggests that the study of the concept of introducing a shortened workweek should be conducted in the context of studying freelance employment. This approach will allow us to form a holistic view of labor market development trends and the impact on demand for flexible forms of traditional full-time employment, including a four-day workweek. In order to understand the motives of workers to switch to freelance employment, the authors of the work try to analyze how the concepts of “freelancing”, “self-employment” and “entrepreneurial activity” are related, and which form of employment is closer to freelance employment. Despite the attractiveness of these forms of employment, they cannot always satisfy the labor needs of all categories of workers, especially those who lack an “entrepreneurial streak” and who are afraid of “free floating”. Currently, both self-employment and freelancing have a significant share of part-time workers with their main activity. At the same time, the analysis of the size of income allows us to say that some workers use both self-employment and freelancing as a side job to their main income, or as a side job for those temporarily unemployed. The results obtained indicate that they are not promising enough as a main type of work. Unlike working for yourself, a four-day work week ensures income stability in the form of a fixed salary and the preservation of social guarantees. In this regard, in the context of a personnel shortage, it is advisable for employers to consider the introduction of a four-day work week as a tool for optimizing labor resources. The introduction of a shortened work week can also attract some freelancers and self-employed people to employers.