The impact of policy design on access to flexible working arrangements.

The Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia 2023

This study evaluates flexible work arrangements (FWAs) in the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia. It focuses on the ways in which policy design influences access to FWAs and impacts gender imbalance in caring responsibilities.

Key insights include:

1. FWAs, like flexible schedules and teleworking, help employees balance work and life. But, their effectiveness depends on national policy design and workplace dynamics.

2. Country Comparisons:

o Netherlands: It allows employees to request flexible work, regardless of care duties. This broad access supports work-life balance, but traditional gender roles still influence uptake.

o Spain and Slovenia: FWAs are more restricted, often conditional on having care responsibilities. So, women are more likely to use these arrangements. This limits access and makes it harder for men to share care responsibilities.

3. Policy Design: The study shows that national policy design affects FWAs. It impacts their availability and accessibility. Universal policies in the Netherlands allow broader access. Conditional policies in Spain and Slovenia mainly limit flexibility to caregivers.

4. Implications for Gender Equality: FWAs can help work-life balance. But, if not inclusive, they may reinforce traditional gender roles. Universal access, without care-related conditions, is key to gender equality in flexible work.

Key Take-Away

FWA accessibility is broader when national policy is specified, and FWA availability is not conditional on caring, but even with these conditions gendered care imbalances remain.