Brussels, 7 November TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD SERVICES Increase productivity and enhance work-life balance: LaFemMe project

WHY LAFEMME? Three indicators (Italy/European Union) 1.flexitime working schedules at work 2.childcare arrangements 3.sharing care responsibility among partners “PHS A DRIVER FOR AN INCREASED LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY AND A TOOL FOR WORKERS’ RETENTION”

General aim of the project Increase women employment (especially in the south of Italy) The main choices of the project: a)Focus on indirect measures (no direct incentive but promote services for enterprises and organizations) b)Find solutions that would create a link between productivity gains in firms and the increase in female employment c)Support businesses to become more flexible and introduce innovative organizational solutions d)Increase accessibility and quality of PHS “PHS A DRIVER FOR AN INCREASED LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY AND A TOOL FOR WORKERS’ RETENTION”

A. Support SMEs to introduce innovative organizational solutions. introduce time flexibility, time bank, flexible benefits schemes for employees, teamwork, reorganization of roles and functions, etc. B. Expanding and improving quality of PHS at local level increase resources/investments for PHS (raise quantity) increase quality, especially in reference to the ability of services to meet work-life balance needs LAFEMME PROJECT: MEASURES AND SERVICES

A win-win approach Starting from organizational and production needs. Overcoming the individual-oriented approach, related to the mere protection of women. Engage and activate workers (men and women )both directly and through trade unions. In this way, we enable the collective intelligence to create solutions which combine business’ and workers’ needs. A. Support SMEs to introduce innovative organizational solutions.

A win-win approach Working women and men ask for time, a degree of self- management of working time, access to services, especially PHS. They also have different organizational preferences and only through involvement of all parts helps to find the best options, useful both for the company and workers (men and women). A. Support SME to introduce innovative organizational solutions.

Some example of measures/and combination of measures Time banking Part time work modular (no standard) Flexitime and flexiplace Changes in work shifts Team work with self-management of working time Training and re-training scheme to increase the exchange of roles and positions Measures to support women re-entering after maternity Flexible benefits scheme for employees related to productivity gains Welfare scheme that include access to PHS …. A. Support SME to introduce innovative organizational solutions.

Support of 7 Italian Local Administrations (Regions) to develop innovative e supplementary children services (especially 4-12 years old target). Develop a proposal including a list of 70 quality standards that meet the work-life reconciliation needs (customisation of services, involvement of family, time flexibility, management of emergency, networks of care services, involvement of fathers/partners, etc.) B. Expanding and improving quality of PHS at local level.

Flexible time and organizational scheme More accessibility to PHS Better work-life balance Better quality of production Enhance productivity Increase in female employment Flexible benefits for employees Improve quality of family services so we combined productivity – PHS – female employment

Firms involved in our measures and services: 96 People involved in training programmes: 622 (business consultants, trade unionist, company representatives, responsible for human resources management, corporate trainers, accountants, etc.) Local Authorities involved in technical assistance: 7 SOME DATA OF THE PROJECT

THE ON-LINE SERVICE (only Italian language)

Antonella Marsala Head of LAFEMME project Italia Lavoro spa Roma ·