The EU-funded project Steps Towards Equal Parenting and a Family-Friendly Working Life (CARE4CAREER) will present new research findings, introduce a Work and Family Reconciliation Tool for workplaces and discuss future actions to promote work–family reconciliation and family-friendly workplace practices at the Gender Equality Days in Finland on 7 October 2026 from 14:00 to 16:00 (EEST, UTC+3).
The event will be live-streamed. Access to the live stream requires prior registration no later than 30 September: Registration for Gender Equality Days 2026.
Participation in the event is free of charge.
The programme in English will be held on Wednesday 7 October 2026 from 12:00 to 16:00 (EEST, UTC+3), see below.
12:00 A Caring Economy: Feminist Political Economies of Work
Associate Professor Hanna Ylöstalo, Tampere University
12.45 From Guest Workers to Gig Workers: Migration, gender, and the reproduction of class inequality
Postdoctoral Researcher Quivine Ndomo, University of Jyväskylä
13.10 Commentary: Director of UN Women in Geneva and OIC of UN Women Nordic Office Sofia Calltorp
13:30 Coffee break
14:00 Working Life Meets Parental Leave Reform: Research Results from Finland
Research Managers Johanna Lammi-Taskula and Johanna Närvi, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, CARE4CAREER project
Senior Researcher Eija Haukka, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), CARE4CAREER project
14:30 One Policy, Many Realities: Parental Leave Implementation Challenges from the Perspective of Employers
Research Scientist Marie Valentova, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)
15:15 Panel discussion: Shaping the Future – Opportunities and Obstacles for Family-Friendly Workplaces
Director Tanja Auvinen, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Director Salla Toppinen-Tanner, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Executive Director Salla Rajala, Mothers in Business MiB
Head of Administration and Communications Antti Alén, Miessakit Association
16:00 Closing words
Director Tanja Auvinen, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
About the Gender Equality Days in Finland
The Gender Equality Days on 7–8 October 2026 is co-organised by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, the City of Espoo, CARE4CAREER project, and a network of Finnish equality actors. The theme of the 2026 event is Work, Class and Money. Event page: Gender Equality Days 2026
The Gender Equality Days is the main annual event in the field of gender equality in Finland. It is intended for everyone working with or interested in gender equality issues, including policymakers, public officials, researchers, students, and specialists in labour market organisations, CSOs, the private sector and projects.
Steps towards equal parenting and a family-friendly working life CARE4CAREER project is carried out in collaboration between the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and Mothers in Business (MiB). The project is funded by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV).
