1. THE RISE (AND RISE) OF THE WORK-LIFE ISSUE: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHY WE NEED A BROADER VIEW Paul Blyton

2. WORK and LIFE Introduction How the story of work and non-work has changed Factors contributing to the issue of work- life integration Broadening the view and the response to work-life integration

3. Introduction: work-life balance a growing issue The Guardian on a typical day recently Page 6 Grandparents feel the squeeze between work and nursery Page 25 Happiness may be in the mind but the state still has a role to play. Page 2 G2 Supplement When am I going to get some me time?

4. work-life balance a growing issue The following days Guardian Page 11 Blair announces boost to maternity rights Page 6 G2 Supplement - article on the growth of night-working and the links between this and mental and physical health Page 9 G2 Supplement Are mothers really that bad for business?

5. How the story of work and non- work has changed 1970s – Problem of excess leisure 2005 – Problem of excess work

6. Factors contributing to the issue of work-life integration Labour Market Changes Working Hours Changes Changes in the Experience of Work Changes in the Non-Work World

7. Labour Market Changes Rise in female participation rates –particularly among women with children Rise in dual-earner households Decline in (male) breadwinner, (female) homemaker pattern

8. Working Hours Changes Widespread growth of longer hours working Increase in total household work hours Rise in non-standard work hours

9. Employees who usually worked over 48 hours a week: by sex and occupation 2005 PERCENTAGES MenWomenALL Managers and senior officials Professional Associate professional and technical Administrative and secretarial Skilled trades Personal service Sale and customer service Process, plant and machine operatives Elementary All occupations 36 26 18 8 19 13 11 28 18 23 18 28 7 2 7 3 8 11 30 27 13 4 19 9 6 25 16 18

10. Changes in the Experience of Work Increases in reported work pressure –high speed, tight deadlines Contributory factors –technology, work organisation change Reduced job satisfaction –less control

11. Changes in the Non-Work World Changes in family structure Rise in the importance of consumption

12. Responses to work-life pressures Individual Responses –Part-time working, alternative work arrangements, working school hours/terms Community Responses –Before/after school clubs, day-care centres Organisational Responses –Flexible working, switching from full-time to part-time working, leave provisions, school-friendly work hours Societal Responses –Statutory leave for maternity/paternity, childcare provision

13. Employees with flexible working patterns 2005 MENWOMENALL EMPLOYEES Full time employees Flexible working hours Annualised working hours Four and a half day week Term-time working Nine day fortnight Any flexible working pattern Part-time employees Flexible working hours Annualised working hours Term-time working Job sharing Any flexible working pattern 10.2 4.9 1.4 1.2 0.3 18.2 6.8 3.0 4.2 0.8 15.8 16.1 5.1 0.9 5.9 0.3 28.5 9.3 4.1 10.9 2.2 27.3 12.5 5.0 1.2 3.0 0.3 22.1 8.9 3.9 9.6 1.9 25.0

14. Overall nature of response Coping strategies to perform work and home roles –Greater flexibility over work time Emphasis on family-friendly policies/practices –Juggling work and home roles Merit of this response –Increased time discretion valued –Keeping all the balls in the air –Maximising labour force participation

15. A broader response? Role Theory – 3 main strategies for dealing with role conflict –Adopt ways to cope with current roles –Change the expectations of role senders –Change own attitudes to different role expectations Emphasis been on the 1 st, insights to be gained from the 2 nd and 3 rd

16. Changing the expectations of role senders Employers –Increasing work expectations –fair days work giving it all –Health and safety issues Non-work roles –Division of domestic responsibilities

17. Changing own attitudes to different role expectations Downshifting Broader questions of consumption Happiness research –Money and happiness

18. Further Broadening the Work-Life Debate Different groups see work-life integration differently –Men, women –Younger, older

19. Conclusion Work-life integration –A continuing issue, being addressed too narrowly Challenging broader values –Lifestyle decisions –Rationality of economic growth