In 1999, in the European Union, over nine men out of 10 worked full time, but 15% of them preferred part-time work, for themselves as well as for their partners. Only one European out of five worked part-time; that is, not more than 30 hours a week. Those in full-time employment entertained all sorts of fears as regards part-time work. More than half of them believed that their employer would not accept it, while just as many felt that they would be unable to do all that was required of them if they were to work part-time. And nearly half of those with full-time jobs feared that their careers would suffer if they were to work part-time, while some four-fifths of them believed that part-time workers were losing out in terms of labour legislation and social security.