The aim of this study is to compare family policies between three Nordic countries. Specifically, the differences and similarities of family policies between the three Nordic countries – Sweden, Finland, and Denmark – regarding formal childcare, parental leave, and parents’ employment are analyzed through a qualitative research method, document analysis. The government documents of three Nordic countries are analyzed. Along with that, the latest differences in family policies between the three Nordic countries in 2019 and 2020 with regards to these aspects are explored through descriptive statistics. Thus, this study adopts a mixed methods design that combines quantitative and qualitative research. Through analysis, this study found that the family policy of Sweden supports the health and lifestyle of families with children and promotes gender equity the most among the three Nordic countries. Sweden has a high formal childcare enrollment rate, a gender-equal parental leave policy, and a high employment rate of women with children. Denmark’s family policy has performed second after Sweden, with high formal childcare enrollment rates and the highest average number of weekly hours in formal care particularly impressive. Finland’s family policy was somewhat inferior to that of Sweden and Denmark because of the relatively low formal childcare enrollment rate, shorter length of parental leave, and the comparatively low employment rate of women with children. This study is of great significance in that it revealed the differences in family policy between the three Nordic countries that were previously unknown. It is also meaningful in that the qualitative findings and quantitative findings were complemented by using a mixed research method.

One of the main objectives of family policies in countries with low fertility levels is to stimulate birth rates and incentivize the citizens to have more children. Nevertheless, the research on whether this objective is being met remains inconclusive. In this thesis, we analyze two reforms which took place in the Czech Republic in 1995 and 2008, which adjusted the period of reception of the parental allowance. We use data from selected European OECD countries along with the synthetic control approach to construct a synthetic counterpart to the Czech Republic which gives us an idea about how fertility levels would have developed if the interventions did not take place. In both cases, 1995 reform and 2008 reform, we do not find any conclusive evidence that the interventions affected fertility levels in the Czech Republic. Moreover, we observe a change in the trend of total fertility rate about 2 years before each reform which suggests that these reforms were more likely reactions to changing fertility rates rather than remedies. JEL Classification J13, J17, J11, J12, E61, E65, F68 Keywords fertility, family policy, synthetic control estimator, parental allowance, parental leave Author's e-mail 31609261@fsv.cuni.cz Supervisor's e-mail barbara.pertold-gebicka@fsv.cuni.cz

No description available.

This diploma work is focused on the situation of fathers on parental leave in the Czech Republic. The aim of research is to find out how fathers feel on their parental leave, what is positive or negative for them and how they evaluate this experience. The theoretical part describes the legislative framework of parental leave and parental allowance and explains the concepts such as femininity, masculinity, maternity and paternity. Then I deal with gender stereotypes and situation on the labour market, and their influences on the decision for starting parental leave. Then I formulate arguments for more father's participation in taking care of children. The empirical part is focused on a qualitative research. The research was realized by interviews done with 10 fathers on parental leaves, and analyzed by coding. Then I made a connection between new data and theoretical resources which are described in the first part. At the end I indicate the posibility of doins some other research, for example with both parents.

This thesis examined why an actor in the labor market, namely Volvo Cars, promotes parental leave. Previous research has shown that workplace-related factors are important for parents' use of parental leave. The purpose of this thesis was thus to highlight how actors in the labor market have the ability to influence the use of parental leave and, by extension, the development of gender equality. This thesis utilized an explanatory analysis of two policy documents and an information film about the Family Bond and three interviews with employees at Volvo Cars. The results showed that one of the reasons why Volvo Cars introduced the "Family Bond" is the company's desire to create equal opportunities for all. "Family Bond" is thus also part of Volvo Cars' inclusive approach in the sense that the company recognizes that parenting and family constellations can look different. A second reason for the implementation is Volvo Cars' aim to contribute to equal parenting. In addition, Volvo Cars believes that paid parental leave, by enabling the company to recruit and retain more women in the company, leads to more diversified perspectives which in turn drives innovation, creativity, improves productivity and the company's operations. A fourth reason for the introduction of the "Family Bond", which is also the most prominent, is that this parental leave policy is part of the entire Volvo Cars corporate culture, which is centered around the human being and the family.

Succeeding in life often depends on childhood conditions. The link between childcare arrangements and the development of competencies in early childhood on the one hand, as well as the impact of parental leave on children on the other hand, is yet to be fully understood. In this dissertation, I examine differences in childcare arrangements and changes in parental leave and if they matter for an individual’s development in several aspects. Differences between childcare centers and family daycare in Germany are explored and whether these differences matter for a child’s short-term development regarding cognitive and socio emotional skills and a child’s interaction with their parents. It also investigates whether an extension of parental leave in the former German Democratic Republic affected long-term well-being of children and long-term well-being and health of mothers. / Erfolg hängt oft von den Bedingungen in der Kindheit ab. Der Zusammenhang zwischen Kinderbetreuung und der Entwicklung von Kompetenzen in der frühen Kindheit einerseits und den Auswirkungen von Elternzeit auf Kinder andererseits ist noch nicht vollständig geklärt. In dieser Dissertation untersuche ich, ob Unterschiede in der Kinderbetreuung und Veränderungen in der Elternzeit eine Rolle für die Entwicklung eines Individuums in verschiedenen Aspekten spielen. Die Dissertation untersucht, ob es Unterschiede zwischen Kindertagesstätten und familiärer Tagesbetreuung in Deutschland gibt und ob diese Unterschiede für die kurzfristige Entwicklung eines Kindes in Bezug auf kognitive und sozio-emotionale Fähigkeiten und die Interaktion des Kindes mit seinen Eltern von Bedeutung sind. Außerdem untersuche ich, ob sich die Verlängerung der Elternzeit in der ehemaligen DDR auf das langfristige Wohlbefinden der Kinder und das langfristige Wohlbefinden und die Gesundheit der Mütter ausgewirkt hat.

本研究旨在了解男性公務人員申請育嬰留職停薪之歷程，及復職或離職後的感受，並對公務人員育嬰留職停薪政策所產生的政策問題意涵加以分析討論。為有效達成上述目的，本研究採取深度訪談法，訪談10名男性公務人員申請育嬰留職停薪者, 並將所得結果詮釋及賦與意義，歸納研究發現如下： 1.男性公務人員在潛意識裡仍有性別分工之意識，然而他們也逐漸體認到性別主流化所倡導的觀念，且願意參與家務，因此性別分工論仍然存在，但似乎有鬆動的跡象。 2.男性會申請育嬰留職停薪去從事其他事務（如進修）者，多數在其原有職務上都產生疏離的現象。另外，其申請過程的順利與否，端視任職機關在機關首長的帶領下，形成的組織文化如何運作。 3.男性公務人員雖會以申請育嬰留職停薪方式從事其他活動，但應可以鼓勵代替防弊，漸進地誘導男性參與家庭來改善，並應建全托育制度，及規劃育嬰留職停薪的相關配套措施。 / This study explores the track of male public servants who took parental leaves and attempts to understand their feelings when they returned to work or resigned. Based on such understanding, the study further analyzes the problems behind parental leave policy. The author conducted in-depth interviews on ten male public servants who took parental leaves and the results of the interviews were interpreted and assigned meanings. The findings are as follows： 1.The male public servants had consciousness of division of labor by gender. However, they were aware of the concept of gender mainstreaming gradually, and were willing to participate in housekeeping. Therefore, the gender division of labor still exists, but it seems to be oscillated. 2.When the male public servants took parental leaves but did other affairs（like studies）, most of them had the sense of alienation from their jobs. Besides, whether their applications for parental leaves went smooth or not depended on the culture of the organization. 3.When dealing with the problem that some male public servants take advantage of parental leaves for other purposes, instead of averting their cheating, we should encourage them to participate in family duties. Thus we can improve the situation gradually. Finally, we should amend the childcare policy and formulate supporting measures for the current parental leave policy.

American businesses have confronted a changing world economy marked by increasing competition , technological innovation, and instability. Many more women have entered the labor force. Many families' caregiving needs are now being met by family members who also are holding down jobs. This, in turn, has fueled the rising need among employees for workplace policies that enable them to meet the often competing demands of job and home. In 1993, Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA of the Act) to provide a national policy that supports families in their efforts to strike a workable balance between the competing demands of the workplace and the home. The objective of this study is to examine the amount of FMLA lost time at one particular company in order to determine a demographic and job characteristic profile of employees who take time away from their jobs for reasons that are protected by the Act.

This thesis deals with the current functions and roles of fathers in the family. It focuses on identifying the importance of fathers for child development and education. Pursues opportunities can contribute to the family and the participation rate of fathers in child care. It also deals with the phenomenon of new fathers and fathers on parental leave. The aim of this work is to comprehensively capture aspects of the paternal role in relation to the child from his early age and to map the role of fathers in the family while the child is of preschool age.

Backround: Research shows that drinking among women on parental leave is a serious social problem. Women on parental leave can be considered as a group which is vulnerable to addictive behavior. Aims: The aim of this work was to map the situation of alkohol use among women on parental leave living in Prague. There have been set four research questions: 1. What is the prevalence of alcohol use among women in the sample? 2. Do the women on parental leave change their drinking habits over time? 3. Do the women on parental leave feel that parenting is kind of protection against drinking too much alcohol or, on the contrary, they feel that it could be risk factor which can lead to drinking? 4. What are the patterns of alcohol use for women on parental leave in Prague? Methods: Data for research part of this work was obtained using a quantitative questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed among respondents via the internet. The sample of respondents was conducted through method of self-selection. The results were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics in excel. Results: Results which we have obtained are showing us, that patterns of drinking alcohol among women from the research sample did change over time. Prevalence of drinking alcohol was the highest before pregnancy. During that time there...