Family-friendly workplaces and fertility intentions

This contribution analyses the relationship between family-friendly workplace benefits and fertility intentions among women and men in Italy. Using data from the 2016 Italian Survey on Family and Social Subjects, we extend existing research by focusing on Italy, a context characterised by one of the lowest fertility rates in Europe and little public investment in work-family reconciliation policies, where the role of workplace-based family-friendly provisions may be more salient for fertility decisions, and by distinguishing between two types of workplace benefits: time-flexible working arrangements and workplace-based childcare services (or childcare-related monetary contribution from the employer). Our regression analysis indicates that access to flexible working arrangements is positively associated with women's and men's fertility intentions. Instead, we find no significant association between the provision of workplace-based childcare services and fertility intentions.