Balancing work and family responsibilities in New Zealand Associate Professor Annick Masselot Hornby Rotary Club - 26 November 2014.

Balancing work and Balancing work and family responsibilities family responsibilities

in New Zealandin New Zealand

Associate Professor Associate Professor Annick MasselotAnnick Masselot

Hornby Rotary Club - 26 November 2014

““a strong reputation on a strong reputation on gender equalitygender equality”

New Zealand’s New Zealand’s proud record proud record in women’s equalityin women’s equality

Female Male

Labour force participation

63.7% 74.9%

Unemployment rate

6.4% 5.6%

Source: Household Labour Force Survey: March 2014

64% of university graduates are

women Total fertility rate: 2.05 in

2012

Yet...Yet...

35% More than 1/3 of

women work part-time.

14.75% The percentage of women

directors on the NZX top 100 listed

companies.

Segregated employment sectorsThe domestic distribution of tasks is still influenced by gender roles Low female employment rate with children under school ageMaori and Pacific ethnic groups combine high fertility rates with much lower female employment rates

Gender equalityEconomic concernsDemographic issuesFight against poverty Individual wellbeing

Real choices for individuals

Why should we care about Why should we care about work-life balance?work-life balance?

The Leave Provisions

The Time Provisions

The Care Strategy

to grant time off to parents to spend time with children

to alter working patterns

to provide care whilst the carer is at work

•maternity leave•paternity leave •parental leave•leave for family reasons (time off for family related reasons)

• part-time• fixed term • tele-working

• child care• elderly care

Reconciliation: legal Reconciliation: legal conceptconcept

time

children

adults

care

Leave

Paid work, unpaid work and Paid work, unpaid work and personal timepersonal time

Retention of skilled workersContribution to sustainable workplace

management

FlexibilityFlexibility

NZ Work-Life Balance is NOT about gender equality or family health

NZ unique motivationsNZ unique motivations

Leave provisions Time provisions CareThe (paid) Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987

The Employment Relations (Flexible Working Arrangements) Amendments Act 2007

Working for Families Package 2004

The (unpaid) Employment Relations (Breaks, Infant Feeding, and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2008

Government funds the cost of children aged 3, 4 and 5 to attend early childhood education for up to 20 h/week.

Legal provisionsLegal provisions

Parental Leave and Parental Leave and Employment Employment Protection Act 1987 Protection Act 1987

MOTHER in employment for the immediate preceding

12 months• 10 days antenatal care• 14 weeks government-funded and job-protected paid maternity leave if eligible • Up to 52 weeks of job-protected unpaid extended parental leave

FATHER /PARTNER in employment for the

immediate preceding 12 months

• 2 weeks unpaid paternity leave if mother is eligible• Mother can transfer 14 weeks paid parental leave to father/partner• Entitled to share the remaining 52 weeks unpaid parental leave

Right to request flexible working hours: Employment Relations (Flexible Working Arrangements) Amendments Act 2007

The request: - For care - Open to employee in stable employment- restriction on the frequency of the requestThe employer’s obligation: - to consider the demands seriously - in a timely fashion

Flexible Working Flexible Working ArrangementsArrangements

Tax Credits:• family tax credit• in-work tax credit• minimum family tax credit• parental tax creditAccommodation supplement

Subsidies for pre-school and out-of-school care

Working for Families Working for Families packagepackage

Where to from here?Where to from here?

More v. Less rights Production v. Reproduction?What is the role of the law?

Of raising pigs and children in New Zealand…

Thank youThank you

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