Mothers want concrete measures from companies and governments to improve work-life balance. They want policies that support better reconciling of work and family responsibilities, such as expanded maternity leave policies and ensuring quality part-time work. Companies can benefit from family-friendly policies through increased employee morale, productivity, retention and attracting talented job applicants. A private organization evaluates companies based on indicators related to leadership, employment quality, flexibility, family support, development opportunities and equality to recognize family-friendly practices.

1. What do mothers want as concrete measures to improve
work-life balance & how can companies help?
EESC Conference: “Towards a better work-life balance”
24 September 2014

2. • Global NGO created in 1947
• International and apolitical
• Non-denominational
• UN General Consultative Status
• Brings together mothers from all over the world:
40 organisations in 28 countries
• Supports & represents mothers
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3. • Research under EU project “Family Platform”
•Need support to better reconcile work & family life
•Time use preferences correspond to the stages in the life
of a mother & the needs of the family
• In & out of the labour market depending on the age &
number of children
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4. 4

5. What concerns us!?
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The more children they
have, the more mothers
depend on their
partner’s retirement

6. • Concrete measures to reconcile work and family
life at National & EU level
• Family policies competence of the MS
• EU has to act to reach the Lisbon targets
 75% employment & reduction of poverty
• Not only a gender equality issue but an economic
one!
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7. • Adapted to manufacturing-based economies &
linear careers
• Today discontinuous careers & time for
procreation shorter than working time
• EU must encourage MS to change their legal
framework to support families
• Measures in place not enough!
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8. • Revision of the Maternity Leave Directive
• Include “unworked periods” in pension rights:
1. “Contribution” to society
2. Reallocation of resources
3. Prevention of female poverty in old age
• Family unpaid care work as a social indicator of GDP
 Law adopted in Belgium
• Ensure quality part-time work: Review of working time
directive?
• Recognition of skills while performing family care work:
FamCompass project
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9. Make the business case!
Conciliation policies:
– Raises morale
– Increases job satisfaction & employee engagement
Higher productivity
Better customer service
Improves brand reputation
Attracts larger pool of job applicants (e.g. highly qualified
mothers)
Supports retention of expensively trained & experienced staff
Lower absenteeism
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10. • Private blueprint certification from Fundación
Másfamilia
• Private, non-profit, & independent organization for
the protection, defense & promotion of the families
specially those with dependencies
• Member of MMM
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11. EFR companies – Norm 1000-1
Ibex 35 Technology Insurance Food Pharma Others
v
Third sector Energy Beverage Education

13. • Private management tool to assess how family-friendly are
internal policies within any type of organisation
• Developed as an ISO norm with Spanish Standardization
body AENOR
• Recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Social affairs & as an
UN best practice
• External prescribers assess how the organization performs
in relation with 50 indicators
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15. 1. Leadership & management style
2. Quality in employment
3. Time & spatial flexibility
4. Support for employees’ families
5. Professional and personal development
6. Equal opportunities

16. Thank you for your attention
Olalla Michelena
Secretary General
MMM European Delegation
olalla@mmmeurope.org
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