Work Life Balance, Institutional Limits and Innovative Practices

Abstract

In this paper, through an analysis of the work life balance policies we try to study how Italy currently facing the needs of care of the new generations of workers. In an increasingly flexible labor market in which workers are less protected, the strengthening of work life balance policies is a central issue for employability. The data analysis, however, shows a substantial immobility of public action, while on the opposite seems to be in place a certain activism "from below. After the analysis of the current work life balance policies this paper attempts to analyze the new responses put in place, especially by companies, to support workers. In the era of digitalization if new forms of flexible working time are developed (smart working), strong doubts remain about the possibility for these practices to solve both the problem of care and female employment. The implications and bounds of these practices will be discussed.