Quality of Life and Work in a Changing Europe: Future Challenges

Abstract

This concluding chapter summarizes the main findings of our study, which had three aims. The first was to increase our knowledge of the quality of life and work of European women and men from an international comparative perspective and to explore how the two are interrelated, based on both workplace and family factors. How do service sector workers in eight countries evaluate the quality of their work and life? To what extent are their experiences shaped by job and household demands and resources, mediating factors such as satisfaction with work-life balance, work engagement and work-home interference and enrichment, and the workplace and country context? Secondly, we wanted to investigate the characteristics of a healthy organization, where work is organized in a socially as well as an economically sustainable manner. Thirdly, we looked at how public and organizational policies and future challenges impact on the quality of work and life of European women and men. The study draws on multiple methods and in this chapter we reflect on the research methods and theoretical approach used. We follow this with a discussion of future challenges regarding the quality of work and life in Europe and end by suggesting directions for future research.