Germany: more and more businesses help employees reconcile work-life balance

Sponsoring young parents. This is the third study the IW institute, close to employers, carried out on this theme. The first was in 2003 and the second was in 2006 (see our dispatch No. 061276). To do this survey, the researchers interviewed site directors and HR managers in around 1,300 representative businesses. To help their employees take care of their children or disabled parents, most businesses propose flexible working arrangements. Thus, 8 in 10 businesses allow their employees to work part-time (right ensured by law). 80% of businesses also define, with their employees, individual flexible arrangements. However, only one company in five offer telework, job-sharing or sabbaticals. The main novelty since the 2003 study is that more and more businesses support employees during parental leave. Thus, 80% of businesses declared that they pay particular attention to young parents. Over 35% of them offer special reintegration programs for young parents coming back to the company. Nearly one in four businesses has a sponsoring program, which provides for the appointment of a representative, in the company, in charge of staying in touch with employees stayed at home. Another major evolution is that more than 16% of businesses encourage men to take parental leave or work part-time. However, offers for childcare facilities haven’t improved, they have even decreased. Nevertheless, nearly 50% of businesses allow their employees to leave longer than provided for by law to care for a sick child or a disabled parent.