Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Work-Life-Balance Issues in Germany
Recent Developments
Maresa Feldmann, TU Dortmund University Sozialforschungsstelle (sfs)Germany
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Outline
Legal requirements
Different child care services in Germany
Flexible work
Attitude towards different aspects concerning work-life-balance fromparents and employers
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Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Maternity leave
6 weeks before birth 8 weeks after birth, 12 weeks after multiple birth and preterm births Average salary (maternity benefit 13 Euro per day maximum by
health insurance, difference to average salary paid by employer)
Parental leave
Maximum 36 months for employees (until the child’s 3rd birthday)
Option to leave for 8 years, if the employer agrees Entitlement for fathers and mothers Employees can work part-time during parental leave The employer must offer the same or a similar work place after
return
Maternity leave and parental leave
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
“Child benefit” 300 to 1800 € (maximum) per month
(67% of the former income) Benefit is paid during parental leave
and up to 12 months if only one parent takes the leave
It is prolonged to 14 months if both parents take parts of the leave
Single parents get the benefit for 14 months
Maternity leave and parental leave
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
All-day care for children at the age of 0-3 entitlement: none availability: for about 3% children in West Germany
for about 27% children in East Germany
“Kindergarten”
for children between 3 and 6 years (1/2 day/increasingly full-day) entitlement: all children availability:
for about 90% children in West Germany and nearly all children in East German
24% of this age group have all-day care; (17% in West Germany, 60% in East Germany)
Institutional child care services
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Service for children at the age of 6-10Entitlement: none, but political goal to offer it to all children
“After school“-provision of care
The share of full time school children on secondary schools increase in Germany from 5,3% (2003) to 15,6% (2007)
Problem for many parents: Few day care possibilities/ support during the time of school holidays
Institutional child care services
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
In the child’s home (babysitter, nanny, employed by the parents)
In the home of a child minder(day mother, family daycare)
Internal day care places (company kindergartens, employ a child minder)
Other individual forms
Additional forms of child care
corbisimages.com
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Flexible work - Re-entering the labour market
Every employee (in companies with at least 15 employees) has the right to demand a part-time job
The employer can reject it for organisational reasons
Entitlement to part-time work
More than 70% of establishments in Germany offer flexible working time arrangements
In addition: programmes to support the employees re-entering the
labour market after a break due to family Trainings Support in finding a job
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Working-time in Germany
Part-time quota Part-time quotaAge-group
Full-time Part-time regularPart-time in marginal employment Persons in thousandsIH
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Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Keep in mind
Most of the part time workers are women
Who works part time has a reduced income and less money in retirement
People in part time have less carrier possibilities
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
The view of the employees
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
The view of the population
Source: bmbf: Familienfreundlichkeit im Betriebhttp://www.beruf-und-familie.de/system/cms/data/dl_data/df906b9d3dba5c26aa91c1140d5f5220/bmfsfj_allensbach_familienfreundlichkeit_betrieb.pdf, access data: 19.05.2011
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
The view of parents
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
The view of the employer
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
The view of the employer
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
There is a profound desire of mothers AND fathers to achieve a better reconciliation of work and family life
The government in Germany pushed this topic with many measures (financial support, legal regulations etc.)
But: offering family friendly working places by companies is not enshrined in laws.
Companies in Germany started to recognize that family friendly working places are an important topic in order to deal with the expected shortage if skilled labour due to demographic change. They slowly start to implement measures for a better reconciliation.
The number of day care facilities increases – but to meet the necessities more efforts are essential.
Germany walks in the right direction, but it seems that there will be a long way - changes go on too slowly.
Conclusion
Sozialforschungsstelle DortmundZentrale wissenschaftliche Einrichtung
Thank you for your attention