abstract: 'Work-life balance is the term used to describe practices in achieving a

  balance between the demands of employees'' family (life) and work lifes.

  Employers today strive to augment job satisfaction in the workforce for

  it is conducive to lower employee turnover, higher engagement, and

  greater productivity. Besides the feminists, who discuss women''s

  inequality with men in the family and the separation of the family

  responsibilities, the term ``work-life balance{''''}, addressing the

  aspects of achieving this balance, starts to be more commonly used in

  employment policies. The dramatic increase in female labor force

  participation in the labor market, as a result of the collapse of the

  so-called ``male breadwinner{''''} model, often results in a ``double

  burden{''''} for paid women. On the other hand, there is a tendency among

  employers to increase workforce satisfaction because it has been shown

  to reduce employee turnover and produce higher engagement and increased

  productivity.

  Policies for the harmonization of work and private life are covered by

  social legislation and labor legislation. The International Labor

  Organization defines the work-life balance as one of the greatest

  challenges of our time.

  One of the aims of the European Social Rights Pillar is the Work-life

  balance Initiative which addresses the challenges of work-family balance

  faced by working parents and carers. Therefore, a directive on the

  balance between the working and professional life of parents and carers

  have recently been adopted in the European Union. It sets several new or

  higher standards for absent parents, paternity and guardianship and

  enforces a greater use of flexible employment contracts. Its aim is to

  increase the inclusion of women in the labor market and to promote

  greater use of parental leave by male workers.

  Motivated by this, a comparative analysis and critical overview is made

  between the policies existing in the member states of the European Union

  and the Republic of North Macedonia which are directly related to the

  promotion of family-work balance. The purpose of this paper is to see

  how the Macedonian labor and the legal system is prepared to respond to

  the challenge posed by this Directive and to provide suggestions and

  guidance that would improve the situation in the domestic labor market.'
affiliation: 'Todorova, B (Corresponding Author), Univ Goce Delcev Shtip, Fac Law,
  Krste Misirkov 10-A POB 201, Shtip 2000, North Macedonia.

  Todorova, Biljana, Univ Goce Delcev Shtip, Fac Law, Krste Misirkov 10-A POB 201,
  Shtip 2000, North Macedonia.

  Radulovikj, Makedonka, Univ Ss Cyril \& Methodius, Inst Family Stud, Fac Philosophy,
  Skopje 1000, North Macedonia.'
author: Todorova, Biljana and Radulovikj, Makedonka
author-email: 'biljana.todorova@ugd.edu.mk

  radulovik@fzf.ukim.edu.mk'
author_list:
- family: Todorova
  given: Biljana
- family: Radulovikj
  given: Makedonka
booktitle: EU 2020 - LESSONS FROM THE PAST AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
da: '2023-09-28'
editor: Duic, D and Petrasevic, T and Novokmet, A
files: []
isbn: 978-953-8109-33-1
issn: 2459-9425
keywords: 'work-life balance; work; employment; family policies; flexibility; labor

  law legislation'
language: English
note: 'International Scientific Conference on Lessons from the Past and

  Solutions for the Future (EU), Josip Juraj Strossmayer Univ Osijek,

  Faculty of Law, Osijek, CROATIA, SEP 10-11, 2020'
number-of-cited-references: '16'
pages: 751-770
papis_id: 01eb8ef20e0ec060eaa0939a2bd6e193
ref: Todorova2020worklifebalance
series: EU and Comparative Law Issues and Challenges Series - ECLIC
times-cited: '2'
title: 'WORK-LIFE BALANCE: CHALLENGES OF GENDER EQUALITY IN THE LABOR MARKET IN THE
  REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA VS EUROPEAN UNION'
type: proceedings
unique-id: WOS:000675380500030
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '0'
volume: '4'
web-of-science-categories: Law
year: '2020'