Work-life balance
The Charter aims to promote dialogue between employers and employees and to facilitate the reconciliation of work and private life. In this work stream, we focus on policies and practices that contribute to work flexibility, improved employee well-being and a motivating working environment.
Our aim is not only to respond to emerging challenges, but also to shape new standards that promote inclusion, equality and sustainable working relationships. Activities include research, data analysis, guidance for employers, training and dissemination of information to the public.
One of the activities in this stream is a comprehensive study on careers and childcare, carried out together with partners Mamadu, to understand how male and female workers feel when they return after parental leave.
Results:
1. A third of respondents have changed jobs after parental leave, with the most common reasons being employers’ inflexibility or a lack of understanding of employees’ changed priorities (read more: survey results).
2. Employees are more likely to stay in organisations that are responsive to the needs of the employee(s), that communicate during parental leave, and that create a favourable psychological climate (read more: survey results).
3. Flexibility and hybrid working are the most successful family-work reconciliation measures (read more: good practices).