DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACES IN LATVIA: EXPLORATION OF OBSTRUCTIVE AND FACILITATIVE FACTORS

Year 2011, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 499 - 508, 01.12.2011

Viola Korpa

Abstract

Development of family-friendly workplaces is an important aspect within the
context of social inclusion and sustainability of society. Its importance is also
recognized at European Union level in relation to European Union strategic aims.
In order to promote development of family-friendly working environment it is
important to identify and evaluate obstructive and facilitative factors. The aim of
the paper is the clarification of what hinders and what facilitates formation of
family-friendly workplaces in Latvia. The research is based on 20 semi-structured
in-depth interviews with experts and 36 semi-structured interviews with
employers of different business organizations in Latvia.
The research results reveal that development of family-friendly working
environment is a multidimensional process and the several participants (social
agents) must get involved. During the research process acquired data discover
problematic issues related to allocation of responsibility between state, local
municipalities and private sector in the context of empowerment of the required
infrastructure for work-family reconciliation. The research shows that at present
there is a lack of information, knowledge and studies of the real benefits gained
by all the parties involved, when organizations implement different initiatives,
provisions, programs or strategies with the goal of promoting workers’ work and
family reconciliation possibilities.

Keywords

family-friendly workplace, obstructive factors, facilitative factors

References

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