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Are the ideal worker and ideal parent norms about to change? The acceptance of part-time and parental leave at German workplaces

Bibliographic Data

ID2172467
AuthorsYvonne Lott (0000-0001-9443-4771, Hans-Böckler Foundation, Düsseldorf, Germany), Christina Klenner (Hans-Böckler Foundation, Düsseldorf, Germany)
Year2018
Volume21
Issue5
Pages564-580
Publication date2018-10-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCommunity Work & Family (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1366-8803 • E-ISSN: 1469-3615
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13668803.2018.1526775
OpenAlexW2901101420
LanguageEN
Citations received34
References cited36

This study examines the extent to which the use of part-time work and parental leave is accepted at German workplaces. Is there evidence for a weakening of ideal worker and ideal parent norms? Interviews were conducted with 95 employees in different status positions in hospitals, police stations and industrial companies. The results indicate that even though ideal worker norms and ideal parent norms still prevail, especially in higher-status positions and typical male professions, they have shifted partially for some employees. Partial change can be observed for mothers in high-status positions (part-time) and for men up to mid-level positions (parental leave). There is greater acceptance of fathers' parental leave, mainly due to the reform of the German parental leave legislation. Part-time for women in upper-level positions has become more accepted due to work-life balance policies at the company level. Norm changes, however, have stalled at the halfway mark. Fathers are still expected to prioritize their career and to schedule parental leave according to their organization's business needs. Part-time working mothers in high-status positions are expected to deliver performance similar to that of full-time workers. Moreover, norm changes are hindered by economic constraints, mainly staff shortages

Demographic economics · Economics · German · Ideal (ethics · Legislation · Norm (philosophy · Parental leave · Political science · Work (physics · Work schedule · Working time · Engineering · Psychology · Social and Demographic Issues in Germany · Sociology and Education Studies · Work-Family Balance Challenges · Law · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works34
Citations per year4,86
Citation span2019 - 2026 (8)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 30
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