Workplace work-family interventions: Italy in times of welfare state retrenchment and recession

This article investigates work-family interventions in Italian organizations within the context of a national welfare regime and at time of recession. Findings indicate that, against the backdrop of the institutional framework, one impact of the recession may be the setting aside of workplace work-family intervention, especially in small and medium-sized organizations with limited resources. Evidence collected using case study research suggests that this has not happened in larger companies where employers have adopted a strategic approach to work-family issues. In these larger firms, work-family policies have been assessed and reorganized as a result of an increasing concern for workplace performance and efficiency. In this regard, resilience to the crisis in workplace arrangements is related to the fact that the adoption of an evidence-based approach makes economic sense and contributes to obtaining the long-term support needed from important stakeholders.