7. Redefining Work-Life Balance: Policies and Practices

Caroline de la Porte (Copenhagen Business School)

Margarita León (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona) 

Manuel Alvariño (European University Institute) 

This stream focuses on innovative work-life balance policies and practices.  It builds on the evolving shift in the role of work in shaping individual identity, a transformation that has regained prominence especially in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift is reflected in emerging labour market practices, such as the adoption of a four-day working week and increased flexibility in work arrangements. While such flexibility can offer advantages like reducing commuting time through remote work, it also presents challenges. For instance, working from home may increase the caregiving burden, particularly for those balancing work and care responsibilities. Moreover, flexible arrangements are may only be accessible to certain workers, exacerbating inequalities.   

Regarding life outside work, the research focus has traditionally been on family life and caregiving responsibilities, supported by policies such as early childhood education and care or parental leave. While this instrumental approach is valuable, it tends to prioritize caregiving for others, often overlooking self-care and activities unrelated to family responsibilities.  

This stream is therefore interested in policy innovations, citizen experiences, and organizational practices that integrate paid work with a broader array of life domains. These include not only caregiving but also leisure, community engagement, and personal well-being. A particular emphasis is placed on gender inclusivity, exploring the growing involvement of men and secondary carers in caregiving, as well as examining the career trajectories of both men and women following childbearing.   

We invite contributions that critically engage with innovative work-life balance developments, for instance but not limited to reduced or flexible working time, telework, flexible arrangements for divorce parents, and policies targeting single parent households. We also welcome contributions on diverse aspects of work-life balance, such as gendered patterns, barriers and enablers for equitable caregiving roles, employers’ practices in fostering integration, the impact of policy innovations like the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, and broader socio-economic challenges such as aging, migration, and digitalization.  

The stream particularly welcomes comparative empirical work, while also accepting case studies if they offer a comparative perspective, as well as theoretical proposals.