Redefine Work-Life for Women and Men: WorkLife4U

Based on gender stereotypes society expects mothers to primarily care for their children and families while it discourages fathers from taking a more active role in parenting. Employers are thus more likely to hire young men to whom they provide better opportunities for career advancement. In a fairer society, life and work conditions would adapt to certain stages of life so that everyone can have a fulfilled private and professional life, which leads to a more prosperous community.

The projects’ goal is to change the established expectations from women and men in the family and at work and at the same time raise awareness about the problems that young people face while trying to find a job and raise a family. The project aims to encourage the introduction of new business practices that will facilitate the reconciliation of family and business life for women and men, promote more equal participation of mothers in the labour market and an active role of fathers in childcare, which is in line with demographic revitalisation and family strengthening priorities.

Main objectives of the EU co-financed project:

• Reduce the impact of gender stereotypes on employment opportunities and career development of young women and men.
• Make employers and the public aware of culturally conditioned different expectations from men and women at work and in the family.
• Reduce the unconscious bias of employers, employees and representatives of regional and local authorities.
• Improve the position of working mothers and women in the workplace.
• Improve the awareness of working mothers and fathers about the existing legal solutions for parental leave and introduce them to the possibilities of flexible work arrangements; thereby influence the growth in the use of fathers’ parental leave.

Project activities: 

• Conference

An online “WorkLife 4U” conference was held and gathered 115 participants.

• Public events

Four public presentations of the project were held in cities of Rijeka, Varaždin, Split and Osijek and altogether gathered a total of 1,198 participants.

• Researches
• Education
• Acquisition of the MAMFORCE standard

An audit that leads to the MAMFORCE standard evaluates existing business practices and examines the employees’ experience to identify sources of unconscious biases that support stereotypical expectations about the gender roles of women and men. Measuring the status quo allows improvements necessary to create an organizational culture of equity in which everyone can be successful regardless of their differences and life circumstances. This results in better productivity and innovation due to the positive impact of greater employee engagement and diversity of ideas thanks to gender balance and general diversity.

• Brochure

The project is carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Pension System, and partners are Spona Code d.o.o. and the Croatian Association of Counties.

The implementation of the project is co-financed by the European Commission through the REC program (Rights, Equality and Citizenship). The value of the project is EUR 324,518.06, of which the European Commission participates with EUR 241,675.13.

The project is implemented in the period from June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2022.

PROJECT COORDINATOR

PARTNERS