Comparing worklife balance in Spanish and LatinAmerican countries

This paper aims to determine the level of awareness and implementation of familyresponsible parameters: policies, enablers, practices, and culture, in Spanish and LatinAmerican companies, and how they impact worklife balance. The study uses data from different national IESE's FamilyResponsible Employer Index surveys in Spain (1,000 companies) and five LatinAmerican countries (1,155 companies), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador and Peru, done between 2006 and 2008. This is a structured questionnaire that assesses the stage of development the organization is in regarding four main familyresponsible parameters: policies, enablers, practices, and culture. LatinAmerican countries get a slightly higher number of companies that are fully supportive of workfamily balance environment than Spain, but with lesser formal policies implemented and a stronger presence of enablers and practices. Policies are important but might not be as effective if not accompanied by the example of managers and staff as well as by a deep understanding of the cultural value placed by them on work, family and personal life. The surveybased data used limits insight into causal relationships. Qualitative and longitudinal studies are needed in order to clarify motives for individual and organizational decisions regarding worklife initiatives. Data collected are from one source only: employer's management. Multisource studies must follow and include the public sector. This is the first comparison between Spanish companies and companies from five LatinAmerican countries regarding workfamily policies, enablers, practices and culture with such an ample number of companies. Findings will aid HRD practitioners in developing workfamily initiatives and help researchers to address new questions in crosscultural comparisons.