Babies and bosses : reconciling work and family life. [5], A synthesis of findings for OECD countries

Finding a suitable work/family life balance is a challenge that all parents face. Some people would like to have (more) children, but do not see how they could match that commitment with their employment situation. Other parents are happy with the number of children in their family, but would like to work more. Yet other parents who are happy with their family situation, may wish to work at different hours, or reduce hours worked to spend more time with their children. This book synthesises the finding of the 13 individual country reviews published previously and extends the scope to include other OECD countries, examining tax/benefit policies, parental leave systems, child care support, and workplace practices.Table of Content :Chapter 1. Reconciling Work and Family Life in OECD Countries: Main Findings and Policy Recommendations Chapter 2. The Demographic and Family Environment Chapter 3. Parents in Employment - Achievements and Challenges Chapter 4. Tax and Benefit Systems and the Work Choices by Parents Chapter 5. Parental Leave to Care for Children Chapter 6. Formal Child Care and Out-of-School-Hours Support Chapter 7. Family-Friendly Workplace Practices Bibliography This OECD study of parents' participation in the labor market inAustralia, Denmark and the Netherlands shows how family-friendly policies such as childcare, child-related leave and tax/benefit policies can help create a better balance between work and family-life. Access to affordable good-quality childcare is a critical factor. In all three countries, paid child-related leave benefits have aroused a lively policy debate. The problems parents face in balancing their work and family life go far beyond the period when their children are very young. In all three countries, the existing workplace culture still places a penalty on fathers using family-friendly benefits. Hence, mothers make the greatest use of leave arrangements, part-time work and flexible working hours. This can damage their career development when compared to men, and perpetuates existing gender inequalities at the labor market. Finding a suitable work/family life balance is a challenge that all parents face. Some people would like to have (more) children, but do not see how they could match that commitment with their employment situation. Other parents are happy with the number of children in their family, but would like to work more. Yet other parents who are happy with their family situation, may wish to work at different hours, or reduce hours worked to spend more time with their children. This book synthesizes the finding of the 13 individual country reviews published previously and extends the scope to include other OECD countries, examining tax/benefit policies, parental leave systems, child care support, and workplace practices.--Publisher's description. Reconciling work and family life in OECD countries : main findings and policy recommendations The demographic and family environment Parents in employment : achievements and challenges Tax and benefit systems and the work choices by parents Parental leave to care for children Formal child and out-of-school-hours care support Family-friendly workplace practices.