NEW PERSPECTIVES ON FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS’ POINT OF VIEW

• Published in: On-line journal modelling the new Europe no. 22; pp. 57 - 84
• Main Authors: Paina, Nicoleta Dorina Racota, Andries, Andreea Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cluj-Napoca Facultatea de Studii Europene -Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai 30.06.2017; Faculty of European Studies - Babes-Bolyai University; Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of European Studies
• Subjects: Corporate culture; Employees; Employers; Employment; Equality; Families & family life; Field study; Qualitative research; Social Sciences; Society; Stakeholders; Standard of living; Strategic management; Working conditions; Norway; worklife balance; qualitative research; Family friendly policies; Norway; social policies
• ISSN: 2247-0514; 2247-0514
• DOI: 10.24193/OJMNE.2017.22.03

Focusing on the importance and the role of family-friendly policies (FFPs), this article argues that a stakeholders’ analysis of FFPs enriches the current understanding of this workplace practice. Therefore, what we tried to achieve is a comprehensive stakeholders’ review of FFPs, both theoretical and practical, in order to highlight all the standpoints from opposite corners of the power-interests grid. The theoretical part is completed by a practical one, which was conducted in Norway. The collected data (by way of 6 face-to-face interviews) was analyzed trough grounded theory and extensive comparison, with the purpose of highlighting the similarities and differences between the answers from each of the FFPs stakeholders. The findings of our field research revealed 4 major themes that represent the summary of the respondents’ common opinions related to FFPs: Characteristics (benefits, weaknesses), the Nordic Model of Economy (high female employment rates, equality, strong labor movement), Mentality (good opinion of the society, take it for granted) Involvement of the authorities (trust in the Government, historical changes). The results of the research that led to common main opinions regarding these 4 central themes of FFPs identified among all stakeholders, as well as some differences in the main ideas, represented an unexpected outcome if it were to take into consideration the diversity of needs and characteristics of the different categories of stakeholders involved. These findings bring arguments for the need to reshape the current work-life balance practices for the future, and even consider creating new ones, to benefit a wider and more varied range of actors.