How Peer Working Hours Shape Individual Preferences: Experimental Evidence From Germany

This study examines how colleagues' working hours influence individual working hours preferences. We conducted a representative survey experiment among German employees in 2024, in which participants received randomized information about colleagues' working hours. We combine the survey experiment with quantitative and LLM‐based text analysis of an open‐ended question. Colleagues' hours causally influence stated preferences, yet respondents' explanations focus on personal reasons. This shows that social factors influence working time preferences alongside the individual considerations that respondents most frequently identify. Our findings highlight the importance of collective action for working‐time policy and reveal methodological considerations for studying labor supply preferences.