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Adoption and use of work-life initiatives: Looking at the influence of institutional pressures and gender

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  • Pasamar, Susana
  • Alegre, Joaquín

Abstract

Under the lens of Institutional Theory, this paper examines how coercive, normative and mimetic pressures on employers encourage the adoption and use of work-life balance. Analyzing a sample of Spanish private firms, we find that the diffusion of work-life practices may be explained as an isomorphic process in which particular normative pressure significantly influences the adoption and use of work-life programs, while mimetic pressures only affect the level of use. Interestingly, the presence of women in organizations is found to be relevant to the adoption and use of work-life benefits only when this presence refers to managerial positions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pasamar, Susana & Alegre, Joaquín, 2015. "Adoption and use of work-life initiatives: Looking at the influence of institutional pressures and gender," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 214-224.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:33:y:2015:i:3:p:214-224
    DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2014.09.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deybbi Cuéllar-Molina & Antonia M. García-Cabrera & Ana M. Lucia-Casademunt, 2018. "Is the Institutional Environment a Challenge for the Well-Being of Female Managers in Europe? The Mediating Effect of Work–Life Balance and Role Clarity Practices in the Workplace," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Jianing Dong & Xiao Wang & Xuanwei Cao & David Higgins, 2022. "More Prosocial, More Ephemeral? The Role of Work-Related Wellbeing and Gender in Incubating Social Entrepreneurs’ Exit Intention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Beham, Barbara & Baierl, Andreas & Eckner, Janin, 2020. "When does part-time employment allow managers with family responsibilities to stay on the career track? A vignette study among German managers," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 580-590.

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