Catalan Agenda for Work–Life Balance and Co-responsibility - Agenda Catalana de Conciliació i Corresponsabilitat

Good Practice

Equality

Catalan Agenda for Work–Life Balance and Co-responsibility – Agenda Catalana de Conciliació i Corresponsabilitat

Country-wide strategy aimed at improving time organisation and promoting a better balance between working life, personal life and family life

Catalan Government

Spain

Regional policy

POLICY OBJECTIVE

The Catalan Agenda for Work–Life Balance and Co-responsibility is a country-wide strategy aimed at improving time organisation and promoting a better balance between working life, personal life and family life. The Agenda promotes work–life balance and co-responsibility policies in the workplace across the territory, with the aim of guaranteeing the right to time and improving citizens’ quality of life.

The main objectives of the Agenda are:

To promote the implementation of time-organisation measures with a gender perspective in companies and organisations.
To create, exchange and disseminate knowledge, experiences and good practices in work–life balance and co-responsibility.
To connect research with public policies on time use in Catalonia.
To network stakeholders committed to improving time use throughout the territory

CONTEXT

The way in which time is organised shapes key aspects such as access to employment, career progression, training, health, rest and wellbeing. This organisation is not neutral and continues to generate significant inequalities between women and men, which translate into persistent gender gaps and a loss of talent and opportunities for the country as a whole.

These inequalities are intensified in a context of profound social and economic transformations, such as population ageing, low birth rates, new models of work linked to digitalisation and remote working, and the territorial diversity of Catalonia. In this scenario, a shared framework that guides public policies and organisational practices is required.

POLICY DESCRIPTION

The Catalan Agenda for Work–Life Balance and Co-responsibility aims to promote the implementation of concrete time-organisation measures in companies and organisations, such as:

Improving flexible working hours.
Introducing or consolidating remote working.
Guaranteeing digital disconnection.
Promoting shared responsibility for care.
Driving changes in organisational culture.

The Agenda is being developed through an open and participatory process, involving companies, organisations, professionals and citizens. The strategy is structured taking into account three key factors: company size, sector of activity and territory, based on the idea that work–life balance needs and possibilities differ depending on each context.

KEY ASPECTS

The Agenda is structured around the following thematic axes:

Time culture
Tools for time management
Promotion of co-responsibility
Organisation of time and space
Services and support measures

RESULTS

The Agenda is being rolled out through a progressive working process that includes a prior diagnosis, interdepartmental, territorial, sectoral and institutional participation spaces, as well as consultations addressed to citizens and organisations. This process has included territorial sessions across Catalonia and remains open to the collection of experiences and proposals.

Currently, within the framework of the participatory process, a form is being disseminated to collect experiences, proposals and good practices in work–life balance and co-responsibility in the workplace.

The Catalan Agenda for Work–Life Balance and Co-responsibility is promoted by the Ministry of Equality and Feminism of the Catalan Government, with the participation of public administrations, social partners, companies, organisations and citizens.

Policy's Website

equitat.igualtat@gencat.cat