Combining work and care: the failure of work/life reconciliation policies
Combining work and care: the failure of work/life reconciliation policies
Care is fundamental to the human condition. We all require care at the very least when infants and usually at many other points of our lives. In addition, caring relationships, of whatever kind, are of great value to people’s lives. However, providing care can be burdensome financially and in terms of time and physical and emotional effort. As Eva Kittay has argued, ‘doulia’ is therefore required to support carers in providing care. Whilst there are now several work–life balance rights (WLBRs) in British law, as well as broader financial and other support for carers, these remain minimal, complex, and poorly paid or unpaid. This constrains carers’ career and employment decisions and has a disproportionate impact on women, contributing to the GPG. The government has made proposals to improve WLBRs in the last couple of years but, even if they come into force, only make minimal rather than fundamental changes.
Pearson, Megan
fc57169e-5c44-405a-9d80-806ade39c1f2
10 November 2023
Pearson, Megan
fc57169e-5c44-405a-9d80-806ade39c1f2
Pearson, Megan
(2023)
Combining work and care: the failure of work/life reconciliation policies.
In,
Hamilton, Frances and Griffiths, Elisabeth
(eds.)
The Evolution of the Gender Pay Gap: A Comparative Perspective.
Routledge.
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Book Section
Abstract
Care is fundamental to the human condition. We all require care at the very least when infants and usually at many other points of our lives. In addition, caring relationships, of whatever kind, are of great value to people’s lives. However, providing care can be burdensome financially and in terms of time and physical and emotional effort. As Eva Kittay has argued, ‘doulia’ is therefore required to support carers in providing care. Whilst there are now several work–life balance rights (WLBRs) in British law, as well as broader financial and other support for carers, these remain minimal, complex, and poorly paid or unpaid. This constrains carers’ career and employment decisions and has a disproportionate impact on women, contributing to the GPG. The government has made proposals to improve WLBRs in the last couple of years but, even if they come into force, only make minimal rather than fundamental changes.
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Accepted/In Press date: 2023
Published date: 10 November 2023
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Local EPrints ID: 475751
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/475751
PURE UUID: 8808bcd5-f036-4814-a3a3-5fc2fb3a57e3
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Date deposited: 27 Mar 2023 16:47
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:38
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Contributors
Editor:
Frances Hamilton
Editor:
Elisabeth Griffiths
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