• Skip to language switcher
  • Skip to main categories navigation
  • Skip to secondary categories navigation
  • Skip to main navigation
  • Pereiti į pagrindinį turinį
  • Skip to footer
Europos lyčių lygybės institutas logoEuropos lyčių lygybės institutas
Paieška

Paieškos forma

Lietuvių kalba
  • EN - English
  • LT - Lietuvių kalba
  • EN - English
  • BG - Български
  • ES - Español
  • CS - Čeština
  • DA - Dansk
  • DE - Deutsch
  • ET - Eesti
  • EL - Ελληνικά
  • FR - Français
  • GA - Gaeilge
  • HR - Hrvatski
  • IT - Italiano
  • LV - Latviešu valoda
  • LT - Lietuvių kalba
  • HU - Magyar
  • MT - Malti
  • NL - Nederlands
  • PL - Polski
  • PT - Português
  • RO - Română
  • SK - Slovenčina (slovenský jazyk)
  • SL - Slovenščina (slovenski jezik)
  • FI - Suomi
  • SV - Svenska
  • Menu
  • Lyčių aspekto integravimas
    • Kas yra lyčių lygybės aspekto integravimas?
      • Policy cycle
    • Institutions and structures
      • Europos Sąjunga
      • EU Member States
      • Suinteresuotosios šalys
      • Tarptautinės organizacijos
    • Sektoriai
      • Žemės ūkis ir kaimo plėtra
        • Policy cycle
      • Kultūra
        • Policy cycle
      • Skaitmeninė darbotvarkė
        • Policy cycle
      • Ekonomika ir finansai
        • Economic Benefits of Gender Equality in the EU
        • Policy cycle
      • Išsilavinimas
        • Policy cycle
      • Darbas
        • Policy cycle
        • Struktūros
      • Energetika
        • Policy cycle
      • Verslumas
        • Policy cycle
      • Aplinka ir klimato kaita
        • Policy cycle
      • Sveikata
        • Policy cycle
      • Teisė
        • Policy cycle
      • Jūrų reikalai ir žuvininkystė
        • Policy cycle
      • Migration
        • Policy cycle
      • Skurdas
        • Policy cycle
      • Regioninė politika
        • Policy cycle
      • Mokslas
        • Policy cycle
      • Security
        • Policy cycle
      • Sportas
        • Policy cycle
      • Turizmas
        • Policy cycle
      • Transportas
        • Policy cycle
      • Jaunimas
        • Policy cycle
    • Toolkits
      • Gender Equality Training
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Gender Equality Training
        • Why invest in Gender Equality Training
        • Who should use Gender Equality Training
        • Step-by-step guide to Gender Equality Training
            • 1. Assess the needs
            • 2. Integrate initiatives to broader strategy
            • 3. Ensure sufficient resources
            • 4. Write good terms of reference
            • 5. Select a trainer
            • 6. Engage in the needs assessment
            • 7. Actively participate in the initiative
            • 8. Invite others to join in
            • 9. Monitoring framework and procedures
            • 10. Set up an evaluation framework
            • 11. Assess long-term impacts
            • 12. Give space and support others
        • Designing effective Gender Equality Training
        • Find a gender trainer
        • Gender Equality Training in the EU
        • Good Practices on Gender Equality Training
        • More resources on Gender Equality Training
        • More on EIGE's work on Gender Equality Training
      • Gender Impact Assessment
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Gender Impact Assessment
        • Why use Gender Impact Assessment
        • Who should use Gender Impact Assessment
        • When to use Gender Impact Assessment
        • Guide to Gender Impact Assessment
          • Step 1: Definition of policy purpose
          • Step 2: Checking gender relevance
          • Step 3: Gender-sensitive analysis
          • Step 4: Weighing gender impact
          • Step 5: Findings and proposals for improvement
        • Following up on gender impact assessment
        • General considerations
        • Examples from the EU
            • European Commission
            • Austria
            • Belgium
            • Denmark
            • Finland
            • Sweden
            • Basque country
            • Catalonia
            • Lower Saxony
            • Swedish municipalities
      • Institutional Transformation
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is Institutional Transformation
          • Institutional transformation and gender: Key points
          • Gender organisations
          • Types of institutions
          • Gender mainstreaming and institutional transformation
          • Dimensions of gender mainstreaming in institutions: The SPO model
        • Why focus on Institutional Transformation
          • Motivation model
        • Who the guide is for
        • Guide to Institutional Transformation
            • 1. Creating accountability and strengthening commitment
            • 2. Allocating resources
            • 3. Conducting an organisational analysis
            • 4. Developing a strategy and work plan
            • 5. Establishing a support structure
            • 6. Setting gender equality objectives
            • 7. Communicating gender mainstreaming
            • 8. Introducing gender mainstreaming
            • 9. Developing gender equality competence
            • 10. Establishing a gender information management system
            • 11. Launching gender equality action plans
            • 12. Promotional equal opportunities
            • 13. Monitoring and steering organisational change
        • Dealing with resistance
          • Discourse level
          • Individual level
          • Organisational level
          • Statements and reactions
        • Checklist: Key questions for change
        • Examples from the EU
            • 1. Strengthening accountability
            • 2. Allocating resources
            • 3. Organisational analysis
            • 4. Developing a strategy and working plan
            • 5. Establishing a support structure
            • 6. Setting objectives
            • 7. Communicating gender mainstreaming
            • 8. Introducing methods and tools
            • 9. Developing Competence
            • 10. Establishing a gender information management system
            • 11. Launching action plans
            • 12. Promoting within an organisation
            • 13. Monitoring and evaluating
      • Gender Equality in Academia and Research
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is a Gender Equality Plan?
        • EU objectives for gender equality in research
        • Why change must be structural
        • Who is this guide for?
        • The GEAR Step-by-Step Guide
          • Step 1: Getting started
          • Step 2: Analysing and assessing the state-of-play in the institution
          • Step 3: Setting up a Gender Equality Plan
          • Step 4: Implementing a Gender Equality Plan
          • Step 5: Monitoring progress and evaluating a Gender Equality Plan
          • Step 6: What comes after the Gender Equality Plan?
        • GEAR action toolbox
        • Who is involved in a Gender Equality Plan?
        • Rationale for gender equality in research
        • Basic requirements and success factors
        • Obstacles and solutions
        • Legislative and policy backgrounds
          • Austria
          • Belgium
          • Bulgaria
          • Croatia
          • Cyprus
          • Czechia
          • Denmark
          • Estonia
          • Finland
          • France
          • Germany
          • Greece
          • Hungary
          • Ireland
          • Italy
          • Latvia
          • Lithuania
          • Luxembourg
          • Malta
          • Netherlands
          • Poland
          • Portugal
          • Romania
          • Slovakia
          • Slovenia
          • Spain
          • Sweden
          • United Kingdom
        • Relevant insights
        • Examples
          • A practice to award and ensure greater visibility for women researchers
          • A survey to know your institution
          • AKKA
          • Age limit extension in calls for female researchers with children under 10
          • Cascade Model GFZ
          • Compulsory awareness-raising session for B.A. students
          • Election procedure for the Board
          • Elections for the University's Council
          • Encouraging gender equality activities at the grassroots level across the university
          • Family-leave without consequences for the academic career
          • Gender Equality Report
          • Gender Project Manager
          • Gender Report
          • Gender Sensitive PhD Supervisor Toolkit
          • Gender and Diversity Controlling
          • Gender certification: a road to change? (SE)
          • Gender lectureship: a model for mainstreaming in higher education
          • GenderNet Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
          • High-profile tenure-track positions for top female scientists
          • Introducing a gender perspective in research content and teaching
          • Maternity Cover Fund and Return to Work policy
          • National connections at Fraunhofer Gesellschaft: the National Committee
          • Overcoming bias in personnel selection procedures
          • Participatory approach towards development of Career Development Plan
          • Protocol for preventing and tackling sexual harassment and gender-based violence
          • School of drafting and management for European projects
          • Stimulating personal development to improve women academics’ positions
          • Teaching-free period when returning from parental leave
          • The Gender Balance Committee of the Genomic Regulation Centre (ES)
          • WiSER (Centre for Women in Science and Engineering Research)
          • Women represented in all rounds of applications
        • Key resources
      • Gender-sensitive Parliaments
        • Back to toolkit page
        • What is the tool for?
        • Who is the tool for?
        • How to use the tool
        • Self-assessment, scoring and interpretation of parliament gender-sensitivity
          • AREA 1 – Women and men have equal opportunities to ENTER the parliament
            • Domain 1 – Electoral system and gender quotas
            • Domain 2 - Political party/group procedures
            • Domain 3 – Recruitment of parliamentary employees
          • AREA 2 – Women and men have equal opportunities to INFLUENCE the parliament’s working procedures
            • Domain 1 – Parliamentarians’ presence and capacity in a parliament
            • Domain 2 – Structure and organisation
            • Domain 3 – Staff organisation and procedures
          • AREA 3 – Women’s interests and concerns have adequate SPACE on parliamentary agenda
            • Domain 1 – Gender mainstreaming structures
            • Domain 2 – Gender mainstreaming tools in parliamentary work
            • Domain 3 – Gender mainstreaming tools for staff
          • AREA 4 – The parliament produces gender-sensitive LEGISLATION
            • Domain 1 – Gender equality laws and policies
            • Domain 2 – Gender mainstreaming in laws
            • Domain 3 – Oversight of gender equality
          • AREA 5 – The parliament complies with its SYMBOLIC function
            • Domain 1 – Symbolic meanings of spaces
            • Domain 2 – Gender equality in external communication and representation
        • How gender-sensitive are parliaments in the EU?
        • Examples of gender-sensitive practices in parliaments
          • Women and men have equal opportunities to ENTER the parliament
          • Women and men have equal opportunities to INFLUENCE the parliament’s working procedures
          • Women’s interests and concerns have adequate SPACE on parliamentary agenda
          • The parliament produces gender-sensitive LEGISLATION
          • The parliament complies with its SYMBOLIC function
        • Glossary of terms
        • References and resources
      • Gender Budgeting
        • Back to toolkit page
        • Who is this toolkit for?
        • What is gender budgeting?
          • Introducing gender budgeting
          • Gender budgeting in women’s and men’s lived realities
          • What does gender budgeting involve in practice?
          • Gender budgeting in the EU Funds
            • Gender budgeting as a way of complying with EU legal requirements
            • Gender budgeting as a way of promoting accountability and transparency
            • Gender budgeting as a way of increasing participation in budget processes
            • Gender budgeting as a way of advancing gender equality
        • Why is gender budgeting important in the EU Funds?
          • Three reasons why gender budgeting is crucial in the EU Funds
        • How can we apply gender budgeting in the EU Funds? Practical tools and Member State examples
          • Tool 1: Connecting the EU Funds with the EU’s regulatory framework on gender equality
            • Legislative and regulatory basis for EU policies on gender equality
            • Concrete requirements for considering gender equality within the EU Funds
            • EU Funds’ enabling conditions
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 2: Analysing gender inequalities and gender needs at the national and sub-national levels
            • Steps to assess and analyse gender inequalities and needs
            • Step 1. Collect information and disaggregated data on the target group
            • Step 2. Identify existing gender inequalities and their underlying causes
            • Step 3. Consult directly with the target groups
            • Step 4. Draw conclusions
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 3: Operationalising gender equality in policy objectives and specific objectives/measures
            • Steps for operationalising gender equality in Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes
            • General guidance on operationalising gender equality when developing policy objectives, specific objectives and measures
            • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Partnership Agreements
            • Checklist for putting the horizontal principle of gender equality into practice in Operational Programmes
            • Examples of integrating gender equality as a horizontal principle in policy objectives and specific objectives
          • Tool 4: Coordination and complementarities between the EU Funds to advance work-life balance
            • Steps for enhancing coordination and complementarities between the funds
            • Step 1. Alignment with the EU’s strategic engagement goals for gender equality and national gender equality goals
            • Steps 2 and 3. Identifying and developing possible work-life balance interventions
            • Step 4. Following-up through the use of indicators within M&E systems
            • Fictional case study 1: reconciling paid work and childcare
            • Fictional case study 2: reconciling shift work and childcare
            • Fictional case study 3: balancing care for oneself and others
            • Fictional case study 4: reconciling care for children and older persons with shift work
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 5: Defining partnerships and multi-level governance
            • Steps for defining partnerships and multi-level governance
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 6: Developing quantitative and qualitative indicators for advancing gender equality
            • Steps to develop quantitative and qualitative indicators
            • ERDF and Cohesion Fund
            • ESF+
            • EMFF
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 7: Defining gender-sensitive project selection criteria
            • Steps to support gender-sensitive project development and selection
            • Checklist to guide the preparation of calls for project proposals
            • Checklist for project selection criteria
            • Supplementary tool 7.a: Gender-responsive agreements with project implementers
          • Tool 8: Tracking resource allocations for gender equality in the EU Funds
          • Tool 9: Mainstreaming gender equality in project design
            • Steps to mainstream gender equality in project design
            • Step 1. Alignment with partnership agreements’ and Operational Programmes’ gender objectives and indicators
            • Step 2. Project development and application
            • Step 3. Project implementation
            • Step 4. Project assessment
          • Tool 10: Integrating a gender perspective in monitoring and evaluation processes
            • Steps to integrate a gender perspective in M&E processes
            • Additional resources
          • Tool 11: Reporting on resource spending for gender equality in the EU Funds
            • Tracking expenditures for gender equality
            • Additional resources
          • References
          • Abbreviations
          • Acknowledgements
    • Metodai ir priemonės
      • Browse
      • Apie EIGE metodus ir priemones
      • Lyčių analizė
      • Gender Audit
      • Informuotumo apie lytis didinimas
      • Gender Budgeting
      • Lyties poveikio verrtinimas
      • Kompetencijų tobulinimas - Lyčių lygybės mokymai
      • Vertinimas
      • Indikatoriai
      • Monitoringas
      • Gender Planning
      • Lyties atžvilgiu jautrūs pirkimai
      • Lyčių atžvilgiu jautrių suinteresuotų šalių konsultacijos
      • Lyčių atžvilgiu suskirstyti duomenys
      • Institucininio transformavimo priemonės
      • Metodų ir priemonių pavyzdžiai
      • Šaltiniai
    • Geroji praktika
      • Browse
      • Apie gerąją praktiką
      • EIGE požiūris į gerąją praktiką
    • Country specific information
      • Belgium
        • Overview
        • Browse all Belgium content
      • Bulgaria
        • Overview
        • Browse all Bulgaria content
      • Czechia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Czechia content
      • Denmark
        • Overview
        • Browse all Denmark content
      • Germany
        • Overview
        • Browse all Germany content
      • Estonia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Estonia content
      • Ireland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Ireland content
      • Greece
        • Overview
        • Browse all Greece content
      • Spain
        • Overview
        • Browse all Spain content
      • France
        • Overview
        • Browse all France content
      • Croatia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Croatia content
      • Italy
        • Overview
        • Browse all Italy content
      • Cyprus
        • Overview
        • Browse all Cyprus content
      • Latvia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Latvia content
      • Lithuania
        • Overview
        • Browse all Lithuania content
      • Luxembourg
        • Overview
        • Browse all Luxembourg content
      • Hungary
        • Overview
        • Browse all Hungary content
      • Malta
        • Overview
        • Browse all Malta content
      • Netherlands
        • Overview
        • Browse all Netherlands content
      • Austria
        • Overview
        • Browse all Austria content
      • Poland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Poland content
      • Portugal
        • Overview
        • Browse all Portugal content
      • Romania
        • Overview
        • Browse all Romania content
      • Slovenia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Slovenia content
      • Slovakia
        • Overview
        • Browse all Slovakia content
      • Finland
        • Overview
        • Browse all Finland content
      • Sweden
        • Overview
        • Browse all Sweden content
      • United Kingdom
        • Overview
    • EIGE leidiniai apie lyčių aspekto integravimą
    • Concepts and definitions
    • Power Up conference 2019
    • Videos
  • Smurtas lyties pagrindu
    • Kas yra smurtas lyties pagrindu?
    • Smurto formos
    • EIGE tyrimai apie smurtą lyties pagrindu
    • Administracinių duomenų šaltiniai apie smurtą lyties pagrindu
      • Duomenų rinkimas
      • Apie įrankį
      • ES žemėlapis
      • Advanced search
    • Nusikaltimų aukų teisių direktyva
    • Smurto lyties pagrindu kaina
    • Cyber violence against women
    • Intimate partner violence and witness intervention
    • Moterų lyties organų žalojimas
      • Risk estimations
    • Risk assessment and risk management by police
      • Risk assessment principles and steps
          • Principle 1: Prioritising victim safety
          • Principle 2: Adopting a victim-centred approach
          • Principle 3: Taking a gender-specific approach
          • Principle 4: Adopting an intersectional approach
          • Principle 5: Considering children’s experiences
          • Step 1: Define the purpose and objectives of police risk assessment
          • Step 2: Identify the most appropriate approach to police risk assessment
          • Step 3: Identify the most relevant risk factors for police risk assessment
          • Step 4: Implement systematic police training and capacity development
          • Step 5: Embed police risk assessment in a multiagency framework
          • Step 6: Develop procedures for information management and confidentiality
          • Step 7: Monitor and evaluate risk assessment practices and outcomes
      • Risk management principles and recommendations
        • Principle 1. Adopting a gender-specific approach
        • Principle 2. Introducing an individualised approach to risk management
        • Principle 3. Establishing an evidence-based approach
        • Principle 4. Underpinning the processes with an outcome-focused approach
        • Principle 5. Delivering a coordinated, multiagency response
      • Legal and policy framework
      • Tools and approaches
      • Areas for improvement
      • References
    • Geroji praktika, skirta kovoti su smurtu lyties pagrindu
    • Metodai ir įrankiai siekiant kovoti su smurtu lyties pagrindu
    • Baltojo kaspino kampanija
      • About the White Ribbon Campaign
      • White Ribbon Ambassadors
    • Reguliavimas ir teisinis pagrindas
      • Tarptautiniai teisės aktai
      • ES teisės aktai
      • Strategic framework on violence against women 2015-2018
      • Teisinės apibrėžimai ES valstybėse narėse
    • Literatūra ir teisės aktai
    • EIGE's publications on gender-based violence
    • Videos
  • Gender Equality Index
    • View countries
    • Compare countries
    • Thematic Focus
    • About Index
    • Publications
    • Conference 2020
    • Index Game
  • Gender Statistics Database
    • Browse Gender Statistics
    • Data talks
    • FAQs
    • About
    • Search
  • Pekino veiksmų platformos stebėsena
  • Countries
    • Belgium
    • Bulgaria
    • Czechia
    • Denmark
    • Germany
    • Estonia
    • Ireland
    • Greece
    • Spain
    • France
    • Croatia
    • Italy
    • Cyprus
    • Latvia
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Hungary
    • Malta
    • Netherlands
    • Austria
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Romania
    • Slovenia
    • Slovakia
    • Finland
    • Sweden
  • Topics
    • Health
      • Covid-19 and gender equality
    • Violence
    • Agriculture and rural development
    • Culture
    • Digital agenda
    • Economic and financial affairs
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Environment and climate change
    • Justice
    • Maritime affairs and fisheries
    • Migration
    • Poverty
    • Regional policy
    • Research
    • Sport
    • Tourism
    • Transport
    • Youth
  • About EIGE
    • EIGE struktūra
      • Management board
      • Experts' forum
      • EIGE staff
    • Our work
      • Stakeholders
      • Darbas su suinteresuotosiomis šalimis
        • About the IPA project
        • Examples from the region
          • Browse
          • About the examples
        • Gender equality indices in the Western Balkans and Turkey
        • Gender statistics in the Western Balkans and Turkey
      • Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies
    • Projects
      • Running projects
      • Closed projects
    • Planning and reporting documents
    • Dokumentų registras
      • Prašymas gauti prieigą prie EIGE dokumentų
    • Susisiekite su mumis
      • Renginio organizavimas EIGE Išteklių ir dokumentacijos centre
      • Apsilankymas EIGE bibliotekoje Vilniuje
  • Įdarbinimas
    • Open vacancies
    • Buvusios pozicijos
    • About Recruitment
    • Dažnai užduodami klausimai apie įdarbinimo tvarką
    • Apeliaciniai skundai dėl atrankos procedūros – išsamesnė informacija
    • Relevant forms and information
    • Welcome guide
  • Viešieji pirkimai
    • Open procedures
    • Pasibaigę pirkimai
    • About Procurement
    • External Experts' Database
  • Naujienos
  • Renginių kalendorius
    • Upcoming events
    • Ankstesni renginiai
  • EIGE leidiniai
    • Gender-sensitive Communication
      • Overview of the toolkit
      • First steps towards more inclusive language
        • Terms you need to know
        • Why should I ever mention gender?
        • Choosing whether to mention gender
        • Key principles for inclusive language use
      • Challenges
        • Stereotypes
          • Avoid gendered pronouns (he or she) when the person’s gender is unknown
          • Avoid irrelevant information about gender
          • Avoid gendered stereotypes as descriptive terms
          • Gendering in-animate objects
          • Using different adjectives for women and men
          • Avoid using stereotypical images
        • Invisibility and omission
          • Do not use ‘man’ as the neutral term
          • Do not use ‘he’ to refer to unknown people
          • Do not use gender-biased nouns to refer to groups of people
          • Take care with ‘false generics’
          • Greetings and other forms of inclusive communication
        • Subordination and trivialisation
          • Naming conventions
          • Patronising language
      • Test your knowledge
        • Quiz 1: Policy document
        • Quiz 2: Job description
        • Quiz 3: Legal text
      • Practical tools
        • Solutions for how to use gender-sensitive language
        • Pronouns
        • Invisibility or omission
        • Common gendered nouns
        • Adjectives
        • Phrases
      • Policy context
    • Work-life balance in the ICT sector
      • Back to toolkit page
      • EU policies on work-life balance
      • Women in the ICT sector
      • The argument for work-life balance measures
        • Challenges
      • Step-by-step approach to building a compelling business case
        • Step 1: Identify national work-life balance initiatives and partners
        • Step 2: Identify potential resistance and find solutions
        • Step 3: Maximise buy-in from stakeholders
        • Step 4: Design a solid implementation plan
        • Step 5: Carefully measure progress
        • Step 6: Highlight benefits and celebrate early wins
      • Toolbox for planning work-life balance measures in ICT companies
      • Work–life balance checklist
    • Sexism at work
      • Background
        • What is sexism?
        • What is the impact of sexism at work?
        • Where does sexism come from?
        • Sexism at work
        • What happens when you violate sexist expectations?
        • What is sexual harassment?
        • Violating sexist expectations can lead to sexual harassment
        • Under-reporting of sexual harassment
      • Part 2. Test yourself
        • How can I combat sexism? A ten-step programme for managers
        • How can all staff create cultural change
        • How can I report a problem?
        • Eradicating sexism to change the face of the EU
  • Išteklių ir dokumentacijos centras
    • Search
    • Apie EIGE Išteklių ir dokumentacijos centrą
  • Glossary & Thesaurus
    • Overview
    • About
    • A-Z Index
    • Browse
    • Search
  • Pirmas
  • EIGE leidiniai
  • Work-life balance in the ICT sector

Work-life balance in the ICT sector

PrintDownload as PDF
  • Back to toolkit page
  • EU policies on work-life balance
  • Women in the ICT sector
  • The argument for work-life balance measures
    • Challenges
  • Step-by-step approach to building a compelling business case
    • Step 1: Identify national work-life balance initiatives and partners
    • Step 2: Identify potential resistance and find solutions
    • Step 3: Maximise buy-in from stakeholders
    • Step 4: Design a solid implementation plan
    • Step 5: Carefully measure progress
    • Step 6: Highlight benefits and celebrate early wins
  • Toolbox for planning work-life balance measures in ICT companies
  • Work–life balance checklist

Toolbox for planning work-life balance measures in ICT companies

Improvements in work-life balance for all can be achieved in a variety of ways. The initiatives that companies can offer can range from one-off events to ongoing programmes. Some require minimal time and resources, while others need significant investment.

A key recommendation for organisations is to start with an area of least resistance: identify easily attained objectives.. This can take the form of regular office breakfasts where colleagues come together to discuss parenting challenges, supported by an external expert. Regular ‘home-on-time’ days also require minimal investment and can unite employees. In both cases the full participation of senior leadership is a critical.

The following section outlines key questions that organisations need to ask throughout the introduction of work-life balance measures.

Important aspects to consider before setting up measures

Have employees been included in the design of the measures?

Asking employees about their preferred work-life balance initiatives can provide key information for the company. The work-life balance domain is vast and constantly growing. It is therefore important to stay as close to the expectations of employees as possible.

Employers can gain insight into the needs of their employees in a number of ways:

  • online surveys (anonymous or otherwise)
  • focus groups
  • strategic workshops
  • ongoing pulse surveys
  • feedback opportunities following the introduction of specific measures.

Companies can also include the Works Council and trade unions in the design of the measure.

Is the initiative intended for both women and men?

Encouraging men’s participation in care responsibilities requires conscious effort and the breaking down of harmful stereotypes and unconscious bias. A representation of both genders needs to be used throughout parent-related communication materials for this approach to be successful.

Not all employees are parents or carers and all staff members need to feel that some initiatives acknowledge their work-life balance struggles. Flexible working, self-scheduling, team-rostering and home-based working should be made accessible to all employees.

Are the initiatives intended for the long term?

Work-life balance programmes rely heavily on employees and management adopting a new working culture and set of behaviours. This takes time. If an initiative is intended only as a one-off or, even worse, if initiatives change repeatedly, the effect will be deleterious: employees may become cynical and fear repercussions. They may put in excessive working hours, potentially resulting in absenteeism, burnout, and ultimately end of tenure. All initiatives need to be integrated into the long-term strategy of the organisation. Senior leadership and relevant departments should also maintain realistic expectations about the organisation’s capacity for change to avoid disillusionment.

Is there something for everyone?

Any successful work-life balance initiative needs to take into account individual differences and preferences. Not all measures will appeal to all employees, even if they have a similar profile. Family circumstances, available resources, personal preferences, and career stage will determine the extent to which an employee takes up the support on offer. The good practices show that organisations offer a variety of measures, from smaller initiatives to long-term programmes. This allows employees to choose how they wish to respond to their specific needs, which also change over time. A programme to support employees on parental leave may not immediately appeal to some younger employees, but may send a strong signal that parenthood is welcomed by the company. This can increase their long-term commitment to the company.

Are the initiatives undertaken because of strategic long-term equality and diversity objectives?

The implementation of work-life balance measures is not an automatic guarantee of increased women’s representation, especially in ICT – a profession where women are currently under-represented. Companies in the ICT sector need the cooperation of NGOs and research centres to motivate more girls to enter the ICT profession. Organisations need to recognise the important role they have to play in boosting the number of women in ICT.

The company needs to measure the women of employed, as well as the number of women candidates for open positions. The number of women employed must be broken down into the number of women in middle- and senior-management positions, as well as the number of women in technical positions, as opposed to administrative and support functions. In order to attract more women, companies can launch women’s mentoring programmes, networking opportunities, learning and development activities, and transparent career development pathways.

In order to attract more women, companies must also remove gender stereotypes and unconscious bias from their communication materials. Business need to ask themselves about the language they are using and how women are portrayed in internal and public communication materials.(Please see EIGE’s publication ‘Gender-sensitive communication’ for guidance on how to make communication material gender-sensitive and inclusive.

Example: Showing women they are wanted in tech

Kapsch Group

In order to attract and retain women in their organisation, Kapsh Group (Austria) created women’s networking groups under the Women@Kapsch initiative (2011-2012). These groups cooperated with schools and universities to increase the number of women employed. The Kapsch Group also takes part in mentoring programmes for girls and young women with an interest in tech. TechNIKE, for example, was a programme at the Vienna University of Technology, targeting girls aged 10- 14. The programme introduced girls to different aspects of science and technology, and IT in particular. The company provides financial support and cooperates with the online mentoring programme for women students at the University of Technology.

Is working and caring framed as a burden or an opportunity?

Often, the discourse around work-life balance is linked to the limitations placed on working parents and carers. However the most successful practices reframe parenthood not as an obstacle to career development, but as a benefit and opportunity for the company. Healthy and happy employees who are able to combine a fulfilling life outside work with a meaningful career are a benefit to the organisation. When companies think in sustainable terms about their employees’ careers, taking time out for caring can be perceived as a natural part of life. Ensuring a smooth return to work is an important element of this narrative.

How do you know what works without trying it first?

The world of tech is one of the most flexible sectors in which to experiment with new tools and methods. Many companies, particularly in the start-up environment embrace agility and innovation as part of their company philosophy. This encourages experimentation and rapid trial and error. Such experimentation has not however always permeated the sphere of HR management. Pilot projects and short-term initiatives enable companies to assess impact through evaluation. Once a pilot is successful, it can be rolled out throughout the organisation and accompanied by a carefully developed communications campaign.

Share:

Join EuroGender

EIGE’s online cooperation and consultation hub
EuroGender logo

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest EIGE's updates on a personalised basis. See all past newsletters.

Contact us

  • Gedimino pr. 16, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lietuva
  • El. paštas: eige.sec@eige.europa.eu
  • Telefonas: +370 5 215 7444
  • Administracija: +370 5 215 7400
  • Užpildykite šią formą, jei norite susisiekti su mumis / mūsų vieta žemėlapyje

    Find us

    image of map

    Gedimino pr. 16, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania

    Useful links

    • About EIGE
    • News
    • Recruitment
    • Topics
    • Country information

    EIGE in social media

    • Follow us on Twitter
    • Follow us on Facebook
    • Follow us on Youtube
    • Follow us on Linkedin
    EIGE logo
    Making equality between women and men a reality for all Europeans and beyond
     

    © 2021 Europos lyčių lygybės institutas

    Help us improve

    Take me to top

    • Svetainės prieinamumas
    • Teisiniai pranešimai
    • Asmeninių duomenų apsauga
    • Slapukų politika
    • The UK on EIGE's website
    • Contact us
    • Login