New ideas to balance work and family care
Working life has changed tremendously since the grim industrial age as employers increasingly realise the need for employees to care for their families. One issue that is high on the minds of stakeholders in the employment sector is work–care balance, i.e. how families in different societal frameworks and settings combine work with childcare and eldercare. In this context, the EU-funded project ' Workcare synergies - Dissemination of synthesized framework programme research findings' (WCS) brought together policy-relevant research from 20 previous projects on the topic. Involving different teams in various EU countries, the project examined work–care policy concerns and issues, revealing valuable insights into the topic and highlighting recommendations for better work–care practices. The team from Scotland investigated social quality in work and care, engaging in local policy debate about fair conditions for parents and supporting the Scottish government's parenting strategy. In Denmark, the team looked at diversity and flexibility in work and care, studying aspects such as gender equal conditions for paid and unpaid work. In parallel, the Polish team discussed the values and behaviours of members from different social groups, as well as the reconciliation of work and family life. One of two Austrian teams studied higher female labour market participation and balancing work/professional career with children, while the other looked at work–life balance during economic crises. The British team examined and illustrated the impact of labour market transitions across generations, also examining these transitions around family formation. In Hungary, the team explored social cohesion, debating the reform of family and employment policies to address the extremely low labour market participation of mothers with young children. Finally, the team in Portugal investigated work–care issues related to gender equality in private and public contexts, while the Italian team studied social care and work–care balance. Through these initiatives, the project linked researchers and other stakeholders, transforming research knowledge into useful material. It disseminated information to different target groups such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the public, including policy-relevant findings and key messages. A host of new publications, workshop outcomes, policy briefs and reports emerging from the project will help take work–care synergies to new heights.Link for audiovisual material: http://workcaresynergies.eu/videos/.
