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How Does Family Policy ‘Work’? Job Context, Flexibility, and Maternity Leave Policy
Author(s) -
Dengate Jennifer L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
sociology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1751-9020
DOI - 10.1111/soc4.12368
Subject(s) - flexibility (engineering) , context (archaeology) , work (physics) , wage , maternity leave , labour economics , demographic economics , parental leave , family leave , sociology , economics , management , geography , sick leave , archaeology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Using evidence from Canada and the United States, I review the literature on workplace flexibility and one‐size‐fits‐all federal maternity leave policy as it relates to maternal job context. The literature suggests that job variation is central to accessing work–family policy due to differences in job characteristics, demands, and overriding workplace norms. As a result, the opportunities for and consequences of flexibility and leave vary significantly between high and low wage employment contexts. Accordingly, the evidence suggests that policy development would benefit from taking job context into account.