Praktyki wspierania równowagi praca-życie w Unii Europejskiej

Measures supporting work-family balance are a vital element of the work-life programmes, which is oriented to employees with dependants. The analysis shows that practices aimed to sup- port the work-family balance incorporate a whole range of solutions and that the situation of em- ployees in particular European countries is very much at variance. For the work-life programmes to be effective, the needs have to be adequately recognized and the employees and employers have to be offered balanced benefits. The article deals with the main instruments and goals of the work-family programmes that cover issues such as marriage and procreative decisions, access to the labour market, protection against poverty, working time versus family responsibilities. It also raises the problem of barriers and threats that are involved in the work-family programmes.