We are happy to announce our new Work and Family Blog! Our blog will cover work and family issues, announce additions to our web site, and foster discussion among our diverse groups of users. We hope to see you there! Come on over, or subscribe to the RSS feed and we'll come to you!

There are four new entries in the Work and Family Encyclopedia:

• Afterschool Care and Work-Life Issues, by Rosalind Barnett, et al.
• Career Prioritizing in Dual-Earner Couples, by Joy E. Pixley
• Educational Careers, Returning to School, and Work-Life Issues, by Andrew J. Hostetler
• Parenting in the Workplace, by Mary Secret
  

Sloan Network affiliates now have access to six more journals through our Literature Database:

• Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal (1997-present)
• Journal of Business and Psychology (1997-present)
• Journal of Family and Economic Issues (2007-present)
• Journal of Population Economics (1997-present)
• Sex Roles (2007-2008)
• Social Indicators Research (1997-2007)

If you would like the password to access full-text content, please email us at wfnet@bc.edu

The Netherlands is famous for its high rates of part-time work and the fact that part-time work is not limited to marginal jobs due to protective legislation. Recently, however, part-time work is discussed and seen in a less positive light than before in the public and political debate. The Dutch government worries about the sustainability of the welfare state because of the aging workforce. Increasing female employment is seen as crucial to sustain the welfare state. It is also argued that part-time employment is a waste of female talent, that it reduces opportunities for women to attain economic independence and have a successful career. Currently, 75% of working women in the Netherlands work less than 35 hours a week, compared to 23% of men. Most Dutch women prefer a part-time job, only 27% prefers full-time employment. The fact that Dutch women use part-time work as a strategy to combine work and care for young children is widely known and fits the Dutch preference for parental care at home. Striking is, however, the fact that Dutch women do not return to full-time employment once the children are older. In fact, part-time work is much more common in the Netherlands among women without children than in any other Western country. Hence, while in other European countries part-time work often is a temporary decision in the Netherlands this seems to be a more permanent decision. While motherhood explains part-time work among mothers with young children, this is not the case when there are no (more) children in the household. Why do also women without young children prefer part-time work? Has it become a habit or do Dutch women wish to cherish their leisure time? Is there no financial need to work more hours? Or is it not attractive to increase working hours because of few career possibilities after years of part-time work? The Social and Cultural Planning office (SCP) is asked by the minister of Social Affairs and Employment to investigate why also women without children prefer to work part-time. The minister hopes to find out ways to increase the working hours of women without children.

Source: Portegijs, W. & Keuzekamp, S. (2008) (red). Nederland deeltijdland. Vrouwen en deeltijdwerk. (Part-time working in the Netherlands). Social and Cultural Planning office (SCP), The Hague. (including English summary), http://www.scp.nl (reported by Laura Den Dulk, Utrecht University)

1. Creates a work environment and culture that promotes employee health and life satisfaction while meeting business goals (66%)
2. Implements programs that promote the integration of work and family life (56%)
3. Develops policies that promote the integration of work and family life (54%)
4. Provides resources that assist employees with their work and family responsibilities (51%)

"What Resources on Family Friendly Employers are of greatest interest?":

1. Statistics and Fact Sheets (59%)
2. Case Studies (51%)
3. Effective Workplace Series (46%)
4. Legislation and Policy (e.g. flexible work arrangements, family leave) (41%)

"How would you use information about Family Friendly Employers?":

1. Inform my research (62%)
2. To advocate for employers to be more family friendly (51%)
3. To encourage change agents at my workplace to take actions to create a more family friendly work environment (39%)
4. To teach classes on this topic (38%)
5. To develop policies and programs at my workplace (34%)

Thanks to all who contributed.  We will work to create resources to meet your information needs.

Best regards,

Judi, Karen, Jennifer, Sandee, Julie and Lauren