Volume 31, Issue 4

Abstract

Care leave applications in Dutch workplaces

Care leave applications in Dutch workplaces

A substantial number of people combine work and care in the Netherlands and Dutch law entitles employees to take short-term and long-term care leave if necessary. Although most employers are willing to honor care leave requests, workers make only limited use of this possibility. There is relatively little known in the literature about how organizational and work-related factors influence applying for care leave within organizations. To answer this question, we use the Labor Demand Panel [Arbeidsvraagpanel] 2011 by the Dutch Social and Cultural Planning Office [SCP]. Multiple regression analyses show that at the level of work autonomy and part-time work at the organization substitute the need for care leave. Care-friendly organizational culture and employee representation facilitate applying for care-leave, while possible barriers for applications (such as high workload and economic problems within the organization) have little impact on applying for care leave. Applying for long-term leave is scantly influenced by organizational factors, although having a works council facilitates applying for this leave option as well. We conclude emphasizing the importance of self-organization and care-friendly organizational design for informal caretakers.

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/content/journals/10.5117/2015.031.004.452
2015-12-01
2024-03-29
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http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.5117/2015.031.004.452
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Keyword(s): informal caretakers,care leave,Netherlands,work organization

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