One Size Fits Few
The Evolution of the European Union’s Work–Life Balance Agenda over Three Decades
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24229206 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ivana Dobrotić (0000-0001-7616-3234, University of Zagreb), Merve Uzunalioğlu (0000-0002-5814-0861, University of Oxford) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-04 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Politics International Studies in Gender State & Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1072-4745 • E-ISSN: 1468-2893 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/sp/jxag013 |
| OpenAlex | W7160250499 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 36 |
The article analyzes the evolution of the European Union’s work–life balance agenda over the past three decades, focusing on key policy initiatives that have established minimum standards for care-related leaves, services, labor market protection, and flexible working arrangements. To assess how well the EU policy framework recognizes and responds to the care responsibilities of diverse families, the analysis applies a conceptual framework that foregrounds often-overlooked elements of policy design: inclusiveness, flexibility, and complementarity. The findings reveal that, while the European Union’s agenda has gradually broadened, progress remains cautious, fragmented, and uneven. Binding instruments continue to prioritize “standard” workers and “average” families, while the (complex) needs of lone parents, migrant families, carers facing illness or disability, and those in precarious employment are addressed, if at all, through non-binding measures. The persistent undervaluation of care, limited recognition of fathers’ roles, and siloed policy approaches weaken coherence and fail to provide meaningful support for diverse work–care arrangements.
Caregivers · caregiving responsibilities · complementarity · employment protection · European Union policy · Fatherhood · flexible work arrangements · immigrant families · inclusivity · Parental leave · policy design · policy fragmentation · precarious employment · single parents · Work-life balance · Employment, Labor, and Gender Studies · Labor Law and Work Dynamics · Work-Family Balance Challenges
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |