This report outlines how employees and managers in three sectors - banking, grocery retail and local authorities - have experienced the 'family-friendly employment' options available in their place of work.

As populations age around the world, increasing efforts are required from both families and governments to secure care and support for older and disabled people.At the same time both women and men are expected to increase and lengthen their participation in paid work, which makes combining caring and working a burning issue for social and employment policy and economic sustainability. International discussion about the reconciliation of work and care has previously focused mostly on childcare. Combining paid work and family care widens the debate, bringing into discussion the experiences of those providing support to their partners, older relatives and disabled or seriously ill children. The book analyses the situations of these working carers in Nordic, liberal and East Asian welfare systems. Highlighting what can be learned from individual experiences, the book analyses the changing welfare and labour market policies which shape the lives of working carers in Finland, Sweden, Australia, England, Japan and Taiwan.

This book takes stock of major and recent developments in welfare policy in the UK and Germany. Concentrating on trends since the 1990s it compares the similarities and differences between the two countries and analyses the degree to which social attitudes towards welfare provision, fairness, and social justice have changed. It focuses on the policy areas that have been particularly affected in recent years and examines change and possible convergence across three public policy domains: family policy, pensions and policies aimed at social and labour market integration. The book covers both public provision as well as the role of company-based social protection. Based on new empirical survey research as well as focus group interviews, the contributions analyse the ways in which social policies have adapted to common and country-specific challenges, and provide an understanding of the changing welfare landscapes in the UK and Germany.

Available Open Access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. The proportion of employees with caring responsibilities is growing and, as a result, policies that support working carers are becoming increasingly important. Written and informed by national experts, this is the first publication to provide a detailed examination of the development and implementation of carer leave policies and policies in 9 countries across Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America. It compares the origins, content and implications of national policies and practices intended to enable workers to provide care to family members and friends while remaining in paid employment —known as ‘carer leave’.

The emphasis on work-life balance has traditionally focused on childcare yet there is increasing evidence that the issue of supporting working carers of older adults is becoming significant for employers. This report examines how working carers in public sector organisations combine their roles and responsibilities as employees and carers. The report describes the demographic and policy context of juggling work and family life, and details the policies and practices adopted to assist employees with caring responsibilities. The awareness, use and benefit to employee carers of such policies and practices are highlighted through a series of interviews with carers and managers. Policy and practice issues are also discussed.Family and Work seriesThis major new series of reports explores the impact of work on families and examines the way in which employers respond in policy and practice. This series is aimed at policy makers in central and local government, managers in business, academics, students and professionals with an interest in human resource management and industrial relations, and all those with an interest in work and family life.For other titles in this series, please follow the series link from the main catalogue.

As the number of working mothers Increases, many employers are promoting work-life balance policies. This report looks at the effects of these employment changes on the lives of both women and men.

Looks at and synthesizes the experience of governments, employers and trade unions in various countries.

This book documents the early lives of almost 19,000 children born in the UK at the start of the 21st century, and their families. It is the first time that analysis of data from the hugely important Millennium Cohort Study, a longitudinal study following the progress of the children and their families, has been drawn together in a single volume. The unrivalled data is examined here to address important policy and scientific issues. The book is also the first in a series of publications that will report on the children's lives at different stages of their development. The fascinating range of findings presented here is strengthened by comparison with data on earlier generations. This has enabled the authors to assess the impact of a wide range of policies on the life courses of a new generation, including policies on child health, parenting, childcare and social exclusion. Babies of the new millennium (title tbc) is the product of an exciting collaboration from experts across a wide range of health and social science fields. The result is a unique and authoritative analysis of family life and early childhood in the UK that cuts across old disciplinary boundaries. It is essential reading for academics, students and researchers in the health and social sciences. It will also be a useful resource for policy makers and practitioners who are interested in childhood, child development, child poverty, child health, childcare and family policy.

There is need for a more detailed understanding of employers' motivations for offering flexible working and the outcomes of different policies and practices for both employers and employees. This report draws on data from a large-scale national survey of workplace employee relations (WERS) to fill these gaps in our knowledge and understanding. It is the first time these issues have been explored through analysis of such a large and representative sample of companies and employees.