Resources

Many useful publications, organisations, case studies and, mainly free, guides are listed below – however also refer to our links section.

The TUC undertakes policy and practical work and produces a wide range of publications on work-life balance, flexible working, and family friendly policies.

TUC -Topic based resources

The TUC Changing Times process

• For information on family-friendly policies
• Flexibility
• Flexible working options
• Employment rights
• Right to request flexible working
• Work-life balance campaigns
• Working long hours
• Work-life balance case studies
• Union learning
• Research into work-life balance issues
• Up-to-date news on work-life balance issues

Many trade unions offer information on working life, flexible working and family friendly policies.

General resources

TUC

Unions are winning greater equality at work The TUC equality audit shows people employed in workplaces with a trade union presence are likely to have a better work-life balance. TUC news release and Equality Audit 2005 [pdf].

Comment on the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey The TUC says progress on work-life balance in the UK has been 'glacial.’ The 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey[pdf]

Union Ideas Network The recently established union ideas network is a joint project of Keele University, University of Northumbria and the TUC. It's aim is to link unions with academics and policy makers.  Out of Time - why Britain needs a new approach to working-time flexibility • Is there enough working time flexibility? •  Regulating work-life balance.

Time for a 'work-learn' balance There is huge pent-up demand for learning new skills among the British workforce, but a range of obstacles - topped by overwork and stress - prevent many employees from taking up training. ‘Love learning’ For a free copy email or call Jawad Raza at TUC on 0151 236 7678, email: .jraza@tuc.org.uk

Childcare provision A TUC guide designed to help trade unionists negotiate for childcare and wider workplace support. Who's looking after the children? A trade union guide to negotiating childcare [pdf] • TUC worksmart childcare advice

DTI resources

• The Second Work-Life Balance Study: Results from the Employers’ Survey Executive Summary [pdf]
• TIGER (Tailored Interactive Guide on Employment Rights) An interactive resource from the DTI that explains different aspects of UK employment law including flexible working rights and maternity and paternity rights. TIGER
• DTI: Work-life balance challenge fund An evaluation found the now-closed fund’s support for initiatives led to effective action. Evaluation of the Work-Life Balance Challenge Fund [pdf]
• Business Link Merged with the DTI Achieving best practive site the Business Link portal gives information on work-life balance issues. Business Link
• Women and equality DTI Women and Equality Unit
• Maternity and paternity survey The number of new fathers shifting their working hours to spend time with their babies has tripled since 2002. Maternity and paternity rights and benefits: Survey of employees 2005 [pdf]

• Department for Work and Pensions - Work, poverty and families Research published in June 2005 by the Department for Work and Pensions explores the experiences and longer-term impact of work on families with children, following an initial transition from benefits into work. The role of work in low income families with children - a longitudinal qualitative study (research report series No. 245) full report online [pdf] DWP research reports website.
• Department of Health DOH Improving Working Lives website
• Chwarae Teg The Work-life balance in Wales initiative of the Welsh Assembly presents a website with case studies, useful publications and links www.wlbinwales.org.uk/

Acas resources

Parents at work. Employment rights information from ACAS for working parents Parents at work

Changing patterns of work The booklet aims to assist anyone dealing with or affected by changing patterns of work. Changing patterns of work

Work plan Acas has published a three-year corporate plan 'to make both business performance and working life better'. Acas news release and three year plan

Equal Opportunities Commission resources

• Policy statement on work-life balance
• Flexible and part-time working resources
• Time use and child care [pdf]
• Unlocking the potential [pdf]
• EOC list of Caring and parenting publications
• EOC's action plan for government
• Modelling the gender pay gaps.
• Transformation of Work webpages

Union learning fund The Union Learning Fund provides funding to help trade unions encourage greater take-up of learning at work,and boost their capacity as learning organisations. www.unionlearningfund.org.uk/index.htm

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)

JRF has published a number of publications covering work-life balance issues. Family and work • Transitions after 50

Families and work in the twenty-first century Since 1998 JRF has supported an excellent programme of research considering how families and businesses cope with and respond to the pressures of the changing world of work. Families and work in the twenty-first century

Self-employment and family-friendly working This JRF funded study found financial pressures meant self-employed households tend to exploit themselves in terms of working hours and family well-being. Self-employment and family-friendly working

Employee participation This report finds combinations of participation and welfare measures, such as equal opportunities and family-friendly policies, enhance organisational performance and working life quality. Employee participation and company performance: A review of the literature

Britain's competitive edge: women, unlocking the potential [pdf].

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Advice, tools, guidance and research on work-life balance.

Centre for Social Inclusion - Working below potential: women and part-time work Over half of women in part-time work are working below their potential; not using all of their work skills or labour market experience. Working below potential: women and part-time work

International Labour Organisation

• Work and family webpages
• Conditions of Work and Employment Programme databases covering working time, maternity protection and minimum wage.
• Maternity at work: A review of national legislation
• Poverty and gender implications, analyses the overall impact of globalisation and macroeconomic policies on employment and poverty trends with a specific gender perspective. [pdf]

European Foundation

• EurLIFE database The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions has launched an 'interactive database of quality of life indicators.' The resource is packed with information relevant to work-life balance. EurLIFE interactive database
• Euro resource European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions Work life balance pages list free publications and research on varied aspects of work-life balance. www.eurofound.ie/ewco/balance/index.htm
• European Working Conditions Work-Life Surveys The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions runs surveys of working conditions of the workforces of the EU member states more
• Better work-life balance will improve productivity Achieving better work-life balance would contribute to Europe’s competitive advantage, reducing workers’ stress levels at the same time as increasing overall industrial output and productivity, says a top European research body. work-life balance resources.
• How unions make work better Unions not only make work more tolerable by negotiating better working hours and work patterns, they showcase the great work that unions can do. Challenging times - Innovative ways of organising working time: the role of trade unions [pdf]
• Working time and worklife balance in European companies, summary, infosheet and full report.
• econciliation of work and family life and collective bargaining in the European Union: An analysis of EIRO articles.
• Working time options over the life course: New work patterns and company strategies.
• Working time options over the life course: Changing social security structures
• Combining family and full-time work.
• Annual review of working conditions in the EU: 2005-2006.
• Time and work: duration of work
• Part-time work in Europe

OECD gender discrimination database A new Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) database shows deeply rooted social norms and traditions are still harming women's economic opportunities in many countries around the world. OECD gender, institutions and development database

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Family-friendly policies

Sound advice from the Daycare Trust The national childcare charity Daycare Trust has produced a new online audio resource providing information for parents and their advisers about childcare and children's services. More choice for parents audio files

Free advice for fathers Fathers Direct is offering free telephone advice of up to 15 minutes per call 'to workers and managers trying to engage with fathers, or attempting to make their organisation or and service father-inclusive.' Fathers Direct  • Advice available by email or phone 0845 634 1328.

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Unions push Euro-plan for gender equality Europe has a plan that includes more work-life balance and more gender equality. Framework of Actions [pdf] and case studies [pdf]. More information: Rebecca Gill, TUC, telephone 020 7467 1303.

Eurostat: Reconciling work and family life in the EU Eurostat has published a report on the gender differences in the reconciliation between work and family life. Eurostat news release [pdf] • Gender gaps in the reconciliation between work and family life.

Hazards magazine resources

• work-life balance pages
• overwork pages
• union solutions
• safety reps tools

Labour Research Department: Work-life balance: A negotiator’s guide is available for purchase here.

RMT equal opportunities Online documents including flexible work, charter of women, bullying and age equality. RMT resource pages

Amicus Working time, rest & holidays Useful selection of links to documents on working time issues www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=1295

Amicus 'E-Equality' newsletter Amicus equalities department has launched a monthly new 'E-Equality' newsletter which can be downloaded from the Amicus website. Amicus E-Equality newsletter

PCS Work Life Balance resource pages consisting of three major sections Working families,Working hours and Case studies

UNISON Work-life balance pages Resources, guidance and links more • Modern working mums pushed for time

USDAW Supporting parents and careers campaign more

Work Foundation

• Over half the workforce wants a better work-life balance webpage.
• Employers for Work-life balance Work Foundation administered webpages

Lack of work-life balance causes excess girth Overworked and stressed employees are more likely to put on weight, researchers have found. University of Helsinki news release.

When work works Published research index page from the US Families and Work Institute

Aequus Partners is a highly respected Australian management consultancy on flexibility, diversity and well-being. http://www.aequus.com.au/

Australian WLB Kit The Department of Education and Training in the Australian state of Victoria has published an updated 'Flexible work options: Achieving work-life balance kit.' http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/divequity/balance.htm

It's About Time! The New Zealand Council of Trades Unions’ comprehensive union guide to Work-Life Balance www.nzctu.org.nz/policy/109996693920232.html

New Zealand Government/Public Service Association Work-Life Balance: a resource for the State Services

Unions and the gender and work database The Gender and Work Database (GWD) is an interactive research and teaching tool developed at York University in Toronto, Canada. It includes six modules: on health care, migration, precarious employment, technology, unpaid work and unions. Gender and Work Database

Lone parents’ guide ‘A guide for lone parents’ brings together key national information and contacts for lone parents, covering a range of issues, from finding childcare to getting a job, and from housing to healthcare. Lone parents’ guide

Brits struggle for balance British office workers find it hard to strike a work-life balance, a survey has revealed. The Sun.

Modeling the costs of pregnancy discrimination Warwick Institute for Employment Research academics have produced a model to calculate the economic impact of pregnancy discrimination on an individual. Pregnancy discrimination at work: modelling the costs [pdf]

24-7 Work-Life Balance Survey The 24-7 Work-Life Balance Survey is an annual national Internet-based survey, which is run between September and October by Work Life Balance Centre together with Keele University, and Sheffield University More • 2005 survey


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

TUC Work-life balance publications
Details of publications produced by the TUC on work-life balance issues.
15 November 2005

Flexible Work Resources
Links to many resource pages listing publications, guidance, tools, advice, rights, reports and research on flexible working
14 November 2005

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