Reconciling care and work

Reconciling care and work is a crucial prerequisite for ensuring that, in our ageing society, good care for people in need of care does not conflict with the recruitment of skilled workers for the economy. This topic is dealt with as part of the social gerontology from the perspective of family caregivers, people in need of care and professional caregivers, and the socio-political measures for a successful reconciliation of care and work are explained.

With the passing of the Family Caregiver Leave Act in 2015, the German government also decided to set up the Independent Advisory Board for the Compatibility of Care and Work, which critically monitors the relevant laws and makes suggestions for their improvement. In July 2023, when the second report of the advisory board was presented to the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, it called for the introduction of a new family care allowance to compensate for the financial loss caused by a reduction in working hours to provide care. 

Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoff, Head of Social Gerontology and Director of the GAT Institute, has been Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Board since 2015. In this role, he was invited to explain the Advisory Board's recommendations on the further development of family care leave and the establishment of a family care allowance to the Committee for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of the German Bundestag on June 14, 2023.