Under the rising influence of globalization and employment uncertainty throughout recent decades, finding the right balance of work and family demands has turned into a difficult exercise. Existing research mostly has explored this relationship by looking at the effects of atypical work forms (such as fixed-term work or work involving irregular working hours), showing that the affectedness by such type of employment tends to increase potential work-life conflict for both men and women. Yet, until now, little attention has been paid to the question how the experience of 'new' employment uncertainties throughout the recent financial crisis has affected the individual ability to reconcile both fields.
Using data from the 5th wave of the European Social Survey, fielded in 2010, this paper intends to fill this gap by empirically investigating the influence of crisis-induced uncertainties experienced at the workplace level, the household level and the individual level on perceived work-to-family conflict. In this respect, specific attention will be paid to the questions (i) in how far these effects vary for men and women, and (ii) in how far nation-specific welfare and labour market policies within European countries are able to mediate such detrimental effects.
