Don't know the half of it

In Holland they're just wishin' and hopin', rather than askin' the boss:

More than half of workers in the Netherlands (57 percent) would like to work part time. But only one quarter of those who work actually hold part time positions.

This emerged from the Randstad Work Monitor for October, which surveyed more than 800 working people. For the purposes of the survey part time work was defined as a job involving at least 24 hours and no more than 34 hours a week.

....10 percent of the workers say they have difficulty balancing work and private life, the survey shows. One in five says the employer does not provide enough latitude for reaching a good balance. More than 40 percent feels that the employer should also actively support staff members in finding this balance.

Despite their wishes, few workers who want to work part time actually broach this with their employers. Many workers also turn down the opportunity to work less when presented with it. They are not eager to accept a lower salary and worry about getting a bad reputation. They have the impression they will be regarded as less ambitious and committed to work.