About MiC

About Men in Care (MiC)

What is Men in Care?

Men are becoming ever more engaged in caring activities, because they not only want and need to provide economic resources but also care for relevant others. Yet, all over Europe men encounter barriers to become involved in caring, which need to be reduced. Men in Care is a European a 3-year project (March 2019-Feb 2022) of 12 national organizations (universities, social partners and NGOs) co-funded by the European Commission under the EaSI program (PROGRESS axis). Men in Care (MiC) aims to improve workplace conditions to promote men taking caring roles in seven countries (Austria, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and Spain). MiC will assess how policies and workplace cultures can change to enable men to become more active in caring for children, elderly, partners, co-workers and friends. This project aims to involve workers, trade unions, employers, and families in identifying and sharing best practices for achieving a high level of work-life-balance for employees. Not only women but also men want to have time and flexibility to care for themselves and others.

Why is Men in Care important?

Easing men’s involvement in care can have positive effects on themselves, on people in their near social environment, on organizations and the whole society. Employees with a better work-life-balance are more satisfied with their life, have stronger family relationships, show a greater loyalty towards their organizations and develop more competencies. MiC actions will show ways to reduce gender inequalities in work-life-balance policies and practices in order to improve the well-being of women and men.

Our activities

Partners will propose actions in their countries to facilitate Men in Care through:

  • Assessment of gender inequalities in current work-life-balance practices through national benchmarking reports
  • Meetings with companies, public administrations and NGOs interested in reducing barriers for Men in Care
  • Organizational studies of policies and workplace experiences that promote Men in Care
  • Development of a ‘Men in Care Guide’ for companies with recommendations to promote work-life-balance for men
  • In-house seminars at workplaces for information exchange
  • Trainings for managers, working men and workers’ representatives
  • Organization of multiplier events to disseminate best practices
  • A public campaign on how to promote Men in Care at the European level

Expected results

The project will have the following expected results:

  • Implementation of new workplace strategies to support men in sharing care responsibilities, which will serve as models for others
  • Sharing best practices for improved work-life-balance across countries and companies
  • Creation of sustainable multi-level partnerships of stakeholders working for the promotion of Men in Care at European and national levels
  • Increase visibility of Men in Care
  • Improvement of working conditions from which both employee and employer will benefit (reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and job satisfaction

See our results in English and national languages here.

Our partners & affiliated organisations

Last changed: 24.07.2019