Reconciling work and family life is a key challenge for people’s well-being and the protection of labour rights. Globalisation has intensified work dynamics that hinder this balance, despite cultural and economic differences between countries. Gender inequalities and rigid expectations affect both women and men, albeit in different ways. In addition, people with non-normative identities—such as those belonging to the LGBTIQA+ community—face even greater obstacles due to exclusionary social structures that make other forms of family organisation invisible. This interactive tool provides a visual representation of best practices in addressing work-life balance challenges, mapping not only legal frameworks but also practical solutions.
The content is structured in two main sections. The first, The European Legislative Framework for Work-life Balance, outlines the Key Legislative Milestones in Europe, provides an in-depth analysis of the The Work-Life Balance (WLB) Directive and presents Examples of WLB Measures in National Laws. The latter section allows users to click on each point to explore specific national cases. The second section, Transforming Organisational Cultures: Strategies for Addressing Work-Life Balance, focuses on strategies informed by a transformative equality perspective. It reviews key challenges and potential solutions (Imbalances & Balances: Where do we put the weight?), applies an intersectional gender lens to explore differential impacts (Hidden Intersections: Equal weight for all?), presents examples from thematic analysis (Main challenges) and showcases better practices both from a normative perspective (targeting men and women in traditional family models) and a non-normative perspective (including LGTBIQA+ people and non-traditional families).
The insights presented are grounded in comprehensive study, combining desk-based research—including literature reviews, case law, toolkits, official reports and publications—with qualitative data collected through interviews with stakeholders from specific consortium countries and in three key sectors (finance, healthcare, sustainability and innovation).
For a more detailed explanation of the research background and context, please refer to the appendix accompanying the map.