Promoting Work-Life Balance: The EU’s Directive 2019/1158
Melanie Hack and Lisa Waddington explore EU’s initiative to facilitate work-life balance for parents and carers.
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In a recent contribution to the Oxford Encyclopedia of EU law, Melanie Hack and Lisa Waddington examine the legal framework of the Work-Life Balance Directive, covering the role of social partners in the implementation process and the directive’s practical impact.
The directive introduces key measures designed to support this balance, including parental leave, paternity leave, carers’ leave, and flexible working arrangements. These instruments aim to create a more equitable workforce by addressing the challenges faced by parents and caregivers, particularly women, in managing professional and private responsibilities.
In their review, Hack and Waddington inter alia highlight ongoing challenges and criticisms, such as gaps in coverage for non-traditional families, unpaid carers’ leave, and concerns about reinforcing existing gender inequalities.
“The directive is one of many important pieces in the puzzle of fighting for gender equality and work-life balance. Its impact depends on how far the EU member states and the EEA EFTA states are willing to go beyond the minimum requirements of the directive to offer additional protection.” states Melanie Hack.
This analysis is part of the LAW-Balance project, led by Melanie Hack.
https://opil.ouplaw.com/display/10.1093/law-oeeul/law-oeeul-e37
