Equal opportunities and work life balance

in an economic perspective: direct and indirect effects

Liss Schanke Norwegian Association of

Local and Regional Authorities Liss.Schanke@ks.no

WORK LIFE BALANCE PROJECTS

– Projects in Spain and Portugal– Very different projects:

• National, political and economic situations• project focus and levels• project partners and promoters• Project activities

– Broad bilateral input, municipalities, enterprises, trade unions, reseachers, NGOs

– Challenges: • Bilateral cooperation and mutual learning – not easy• Simple terminology: gender? Mainstrreaming?• Focusing on specific actions and concrete results

Different elements and approaches

• National economic mechanisms and legislation,- e.g. regarding parental leave

• Local services for children and elderly, public, private, voluntary – e.g. kindergartens

• Labour policies, including working hours, pay gap, management styles, delegation, recruitment – e.g. through social dialogue

• Integration of men and the male perspective – by women and men

DIRECT ECONOMIC ASPECTS

• Equal opportunities and work life balance can be studied and justified from many perspectives: human rights, democracy, sociology, quality

• This presentation is focusing on the economic perspectives - direct economic effects and indirect economic effects

Effect on birth rate and demographic balance

• WLB makes it easier for couples to have children

• The sustainble birth rate is 2.1. The rates in Europe vary between 1.3 and 2.2.

• Low birth rates means future economic problems: few adults to support the elderly

Effect on employment

• WLB implies new jobs, e.g. kindergartens and institutions, public sector management

• New jobs imply higher employment rate and a flexible labour market

• There is a positive link between women’s employment rate and Gross National Product

Effect on taxes and consumption

Taxes• 2 salaries families

generally earn more than 1 salary families -and pay more taxes

• Taxes are the basis for all public services: schools, hospitals, kindergartens, transport, institutions

Consumption• 2 salaries families

generally consume more, - especially if they have children

• Higher consume is positive for private sector: restaurants, shops, factories, services

INDIRECT ECONOMIC ASPECTS• No easy answers• Short and long term • Vary between countries

and cultures• Different national

context, different indirect economic effects

• E.g. short and long lunch break…

Better private sector company boards

• Mr. A. Gabrielsen, former conservative minister for private sector, initiated the 2003 Law on 40% quota in reg.private company boards

• Argument: Success of private companies depend on HR quality; they need to utilize all human resources

• Ex:Women board members: 2003: 6%, 2009: 40%

•

Better care for the elderly

• Number of persons over 80 doubled by 2035, 40.000 new employees needed

• Presently 10% male employees in care for the elderly

• Campaign: diversity and quality: more men in care jobs

• Pilot projects: men can try a job in this sector, 8 weeks with full salary

Effects of unemployment

• Effects on unemployed adults and youth: motivation, capacity

• Effects on children, friends, siblings

• Effects of unemploy-ment on taxes/pensions

• Effects of «unregistered labour market» on busi-ness competion/quality

Effects of day care

• On demographic growth• On parents’ possibility for

education/employment• On children’s capacity and

motivation for education – especially immigrant or marginalized children

• On public and private sector competence in a global competitive economy

Effects of postponed retirement

• Continued payment of income taxes – reduced payment of pensions

• More active elderly people - happier and healthier

• 2012: EU year for the active elderly

• Foto jobb

Effects on productivity

• Does flexible working hours/place give more satisfied workers?

• Does more satisfied workers give increased productivity?

• Is working 08-16 more productive than 08-20?

• Is presentism productive?• Best Practice: Flexibility in

Bærum

Effects on social capital • Many forms of capital,

economic, cultural, social• Putnam: «SC is the collective

value of all social networks and the inclinations that arise from these n. to do thing for each other»

• More networks with 08-16.00 than 08-20?

• 2011: EU voluntary year• Best Practice: Voluntary

centre in Mandal

Effects on male role

• Work life balance may imply a new role for men in their own family

• WLB may open up new jobs for men in kindergartens, institutions for elderly etc.

• More men in care may imply higher total quality of care

• Best Practice: REFORM and Free Choice Vest Agder

GENERAL EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC EQUALITY

Main message: Society benefits from greater economic equality – not only the poor – but the whole population. Examples: Life expectancy, literacy, infant mortality, homicides, imprisonment, mental illness, drug addiction, trust…………..

Income differences between the richest and poorest 20%

Index of: • Life expectancy• Math & Literacy • Infant mortality• Homicides• Imprisonment• Teenage births • Trust• Obesity• Mental illness – incl.

drug & alcohol addiction

• Social mobility

Health and Social Problems

Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009) www.equalitytrust.org.uk

CONCLUDING REMARKS

- Equality between women and men and work life balance that promotes demographic balance and labour participation is a basis for a sustainable economy- A sustainable economy is a basis for equality between women and men