"To make working and family life as compatible as possible, we need both a family-friendly working environment and good childcare options, which we are constantly developing with a focus on children under three. Providing this creates the demand," explains Mitterlehner. "We want to become the most family-friendly country in Europe."
The three audit initiatives of "berufundfamilie", "hochschuleundfamilie" and "pflegeundfamilie" (career and family, university and family and care and family, respectively) are becoming increasingly popular. The 41 companies, five universities and nine healthcare facilities from all over Austria that received the certificate are developing their family-friendliness as part of the audit that's appropriate for them. These measures range from offering flexible working hours, the option to work from home, in-house childcare facilities and care provision during school holidays right through to health-promotion measures for combating stress, unhealthy lifestyle habits and burnout.