European companies are still lagging far behind in applying measures that would permit the conciliation of work and family life in response to workers' demands. According to research by Catenon Worldwide Executive Search, a European talent search company, barely 5% of companies offer some type of nursery service for their employees. Only one in ten have flexible work schedule measures in place, demanded by three out of every four workers surveyed in the "Annual Catenon Work Satisfaction and Quality of Life Study 2007". On the other hand, United Kingdom earmarks 1.7% of its GDP to family aid, making it one of the countries with a low rating in this area.

Talent shortage forces companies to be competitive in order to attract the best candidates

Increased competition in a global setting, along with more demanding customers shaped by rapid access to information, have led companies to no longer compete solely on the basis of products or technology. Nowadays, a first-rate human team is the key to success and the most powerful competitive advantage. Catenon therefore recommends that European companies take note of the changing global landscape and put aside formulas such as the traditional work schedule. As a result, they would become more appealing, as workplaces, to the best professionals.

Scandinavian countries top the list in flexible schedules

According to Catenon consultants, the majority of companies in Finland, Sweden and Denmark have measures in place which allow their workers to work flexible schedules. Countries such as Greece, Portugal and Spain, however, are much less open to workers' flexible schedule demands and barely 10% or 15% of companies have implemented some type of measure in this area.

European countries' family aid: clearly insufficient

In general, European governments have a long way to go in increasing funds destined to family aid. Scandinavian countries in this regard also outperform the rest. Denmark and Luxembourg take the lead with 3.9% and 3.8% of their GDP destined to family aid, respectively. Sweden, Germany, Finland and Austria are in the middle range with 3% of their GDP, followed by France, Hungary and Ireland (2.5%). Further down, below the 2.2% EU average, are Greece and the UK (1.7%), the Netherlands (1.3%), Portugal (1.2%), Italy (1.1%), Poland (0.9%) and, last of all, Spain (0.8%).

A long road ahead for paternity leaves

Maternity leaves have reached reasonably acceptable levels. There is much to be done, however, in the area of paternity leaves in EU-member states. Scandinavian countries again prove to be the most advanced. They issue leaves exclusively for fathers, hoping to encourage their involvement in childcare. This type of paid leave also exists in France, Spain and the UK.

Government and companies: innovation needed in offering nursery services

According to Catenon, nursery service options are unfortunate throughout Europe, with very little variation between countries. It could be estimated that less than 5% of all European companies offer some sort of service to their employees for the care of their children.