A Work–Life Balance for All? Assessing the Inclusiveness of EU Directive 2019/1158

Abstract:

Along with the growing interest in Work–Life Balance (WLB) in academic debates, policymaking, corporate discourse and everyday life, critical scholars have called for an enquiry into the conceptual and practical ambiguities inherent in WLB discourse and policies. This article aims to contribute to this scholarship by exploring the evolution and the limitations of WLB provisions and policies, with specific reference to the European Union (EU) legal framework.

The article provides an account of the evolution of the EU legal framework and explores the regulatory innovations introduced by Directive EU 2019/1158 on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers, adopted in June 2019. Drawing on the insights provided in the critical literature, in particular the objections to the focus on work–family balance of professionals at the expense of workers in lower income groups, this article assesses the new Directive against the background of increasing family diversity and the rise of non-standard employment.

While some progress has been made towards the recognition of ‘non-standard’ families, many non-standard workers may still fall outside the scope of the Directive, or may not meet the eligibility criteria to access WLB measures, with detrimental effects in terms of equality. The article concludes by presenting the rationale for adopting an intersectional-sensitive approach to WLB.