Book Description

This OECD study of parents' participation in the labor market in Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands shows how family-friendly policies such as childcare, child-related leave and tax/benefit policies can help create a better balance between work and family-life. Access to affordable good-quality childcare is a critical factor. In all three countries, paid child-related leave benefits have aroused a lively policy debate. The problems parents face in balancing their work and family life go far beyond the period when their children are very young. In all three countries, the existing workplace culture still places a penalty on fathers using family-friendly benefits. Hence, mothers make the greatest use of leave arrangements, part-time work and flexible working hours. This can damage their career development when compared to men, and perpetuates existing gender inequalities at the labor market.