ABSTRACT
This chapter overviews the key findings from recent cross-national work-life research and then introduces the cultural, institutional, and labor force variables used for contextualizing cross-national comparisons in the present study. It provides the multidimensional information about the national contexts in each country. The chapter identifies important similarities and differences between countries in the study and determines the utility of clustering countries based on global composite measures of human development, gender inequality, individualism-collectivism, and observed patterns of female employment. It examines how these factors, embedded in cross-national comparisons, are related to employees' use of employer-provided work-life policies and programs; measures of WFC, job satisfaction, and intent to turnover; and to employees' satisfaction with government and organizational supports. Among those who used these policies, women were significantly more likely to say that flexible scheduling, reduced work hours, telecommuting, emergency absence policies, extended maternity/parental leave, and access to on-site or near-site health facilities were helpful for improving their work-family (W-F) balance.
