20814 - Workplace Support, Gender Norms, and Work-Family Balance in Policy and Practice

Description

Work-family balance is shaped not only by individual choices but by the organizational structures, cultural norms, and policy environments in which those choices are made. This session brings together research that examines how workplace practices, gendered expectations, and formal leave policies interact to influence employment trajectories, well-being, and caregiving decisions. The papers address a range of organizational contexts—from post-pandemic flexible work arrangements to managerial support systems and workplace hierarchies—highlighting how structural contexts can either reinforce or challenge prevailing gender norms and practices. They also consider how national and organizational policies around parental leave and caregiving intersect with workers’ beliefs, resources, and life course stages. Together, these studies underscore the need to move beyond policy design alone, drawing attention to the informal norms and power dynamics that shape the implementation and impact of work-family balance.

Sub Unit

• Family and Work

Presider

• Nanum Jeon

Individual Presentations

• Age Differences in Employment Expectations and Postpartum Depression - Seo-Yeon Lim, UMass Amherst

• Beyond Policy: How Workplace Support, Gender Norms, and Hierarchy Shape Parental Leave Decisions - So Yun Park, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Gender Attitudes and Labour Market Trajectories: Parental Leave and Work-Life Balance Among First-Time Mothers - Vilma Razauskiene, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences

• Managing Work–family Conflict: How Managerial Support and Meaningful Work Protect Employee’s Well-Being - Deniz Yucel, William Paterson University; Amelia Li, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Realities and Ideals: Flexible Work Arrangements in the Post-COVID Era - Christin L. Munsch, University of Connecticut; Tessa Holtzman, Stanford University

Session Organizer

• Nanum Jeon, University of California-Los Angeles