The quality of work: the work-family interface

Since the early years of this century the characteristics of work and work circumstances in the Netherlands, like in other European countries, changed dramatically. The development of a 24 hour economy, the flexibilisation of work, and a greater participation of women in the labour force are relevant examples in this context. As a consequence of these changes of work and work circumstances, it is no longer evident that the quality of work can be studied from an isolated work perspective. In our view it is worthwhile to study the determinants of well-being at work not only from the perspective of the quality of work, but from an interrelated approach consisting of both a work and life course perspective. Based on data derived from a survey in a home care organisation (309 respondents in the caring profession), we carefully conclude that the definition of the quality of work has to be redefined. Defining the quality of work only in terms of the content of jobs seems to be outdated. In studies of labour it is time to incorporate the family, too.