Germany: companies are increasingly sensitive to family issues

According to a study of the IW research institute of Cologne, presented on December 19 in Berlin, German companies are offering more and more possibilities to their employees to reconcile family life and professional life. "Pro-family policy is becoming a trademark of German companies", says Ursula von der Leyen, federal Minister for Families, Senior citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). (Ref. 061276)
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Ordered by its ministry and the main German employers’ organizations (BDA, BDI, DIHK, ZDH) three years after a first inventory , the study reveals a clear evolution. Thus, nearly 72 % of companies declare today that a family policy (“Familienfreundlichkeit“) is a very important “or” important “subject a” for their own companies. In 2003, they were only 46.5% to affirm it. Second change: more and more of companies (23.4%, compared to 9.4% in 2003) propose to their employees seven to nine “family”

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