One Size Fits Few: The Evolution of the European Union’s Work–Life Balance Agenda over Three Decades

Abstract The article analyzes the evolution of the European Union’s work–life balance agenda over the past three decades, focusing on key policy initiatives that have established minimum standards for care-related leaves, services, labor market protection, and flexible working arrangements. To assess how well the EU policy framework recognizes and responds to the care responsibilities of diverse families, the analysis applies a conceptual framework that foregrounds often-overlooked elements of policy design: inclusiveness, flexibility, and complementarity. The findings reveal that, while the European Union’s agenda has gradually broadened, progress remains cautious, fragmented, and uneven. Binding instruments continue to prioritize “standard” workers and “average” families, while the (complex) needs of lone parents, migrant families, carers facing illness or disability, and those in precarious employment are addressed, if at all, through non-binding measures. The persistent undervaluation of care, limited recognition of fathers’ roles, and siloed policy approaches weaken coherence and fail to provide meaningful support for diverse work–care arrangements.