This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Gault, B. Articles by Lovell, V. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Costs and Benefits of Policies to Advance Work/Life Integration

Vicky Lovell

Institute for Women's Policy Research

This article discusses the need for improvedwork/life policies, provides examples of successful and promising policy approaches, and describes methods of assessing the costs and benefits of expanded work/life supports. The current need arises from women's influx into the labor force, a decline in employer-provided benefits that support family care, an inadequate supply of child care, and inequality in the distribution of work/life benefits across income levels. Advocates in a number of states are engaged in intensive advocacy to pass paid parental leave and paid sick leave laws. Meaningful policy and programmatic change requires building public will within governments, business, and the general public. To achieve expansive policy change over the long-term, innovative efforts are needed to build a broad-based grassroots movement focused on work/life issues, to encourage businesses to vocally endorse improved practices, and to cultivate policy maker champions through improved female political representation.

Key Words: cost/benefit analysis • work/life policy • women's employment • policy change

American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 49, No. 9, 1152-1164 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0002764206286383


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?