Familienpolitik und Erwerbsrückkehr von Müttern – Eine Analyse mit Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP)

The Role of Partners’ Support for Women’s Reentry Into Employment After a Child-Related Career Break in Germany

“…The biggest change in parental leave legislation was the introduction of income-based parental benefits in 2007, which are calculated as two thirds of previous earnings with a minimum of EUR 300 and a maximum of EUR 1,800. Unlike the previous regulation, this last change in parental leave law provides clear incentives to return to the labor market sooner for all income groups (Drasch, 2013; Elsas et al, 2013). In addition, parental pay is extended to 14 months if the parental leave is shared between both parents and fathers take at least 2 months parental leave.…”

“…At the meso level, arrangements that help combine family and work such as flexible working hours and help with child care are of particular importance for a return to the labor market. Previous studies on the determinants for women’s reentry at the micro level showed, for example, that women with a high educational attainment level, belonging to a younger cohort, or with more financial needs are more likely to return to the labor market and do so more quickly (Blossfeld et al, 2001; Drasch, 2013; Elsas et al, 2013). Further significant determinants of women’s reentry include the number and age of children (Drasch, 2013).…”

“…Although there are numerous studies examining the determinants for mothers’ return to the labor market in Germany (e.g., Blossfeld, Drobnič, & Rohwer, 2001; Drasch, 2013; Elsas, Wölfel, & Heineck, 2013; Hoherz, 2014; Jacob & Kleinert, 2014), only very few of them look at the role the partner plays in women’s reentry into employment (Blossfeld et al, 2001; Hoherz, 2014; Jacob & Kleinert, 2014). These last few studies focus on the effects of a partner’s labor market or financial resources, however, and there are virtually no studies to date—to the best of the author’s knowledge—that examine partners’ social support for women’s labor market reentry (for an exception, see Höhne, 2007, but here, too, support in the empirical analysis is only measured indirectly through a partner’s resources).…”