• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.37-51
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• 2022

This study examines the relationship between flexible work and workers' work-life balance using data from the 23rd Korean Labor and Income Panel Study, with a focus on the impact of working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the analysis, WFH was found to have a positive effect on the happiness of workers, satisfaction with family relationships, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction related to job security for women. In addition, we looked at the changes in time use of WFH workers and non-WFH workers before and after COVID-19, with a particular focus on aspects such as time spent sleeping and on self-development, childcare, housework, exercise, and social gatherings. Compared to non-WFH workers, WFH workers increased the time spent on housework and childcare after COVID-19, with this trend more pronounced among women. The results of this study suggest that the effect of utilizing WFH may be halved for workers who have to take care of children and work at the same time, and that this effect may be greater for women. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen social support measures so that WFH workers who face a work-life conflict due to childcare can maintain work productivity and realize a work-life balance, and to ensure that the flexible work arrangement should not be a medium that reinforces traditional gender roles. Active policy efforts will be required to make sure this happens.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-41
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• 2017

Objective: This study aimed to provide policy implications by studying the class size of early childhood education institutes. Methods: By looking through researches, the educational influence of class size was examined. By using the latest statistical data, class size standard and status were compared. After class size perception in the field was considered and the main results of advanced researches were summarized and analyzed, the actual condition of class size was diagnosed. Furthermore, the national research trend was analyzed. Results: First, class size was an influencing factor on young children and teachers and its importance was reconfirmed. Second, as for standard in relation to class size in Korea, the maximum class size and teacher-child ratio were not presented together. In respect of overseas standards, infancy has similar standards, but early childhood has a little higher ratio. In the educational fields, there was growing awareness that class size should be modified. Third, there were not enough domestic researches on class size and they tended to be biased in terms of the method, targets, and contents. Conclusion/Implications: It is suggested that it is necessary to establish a class size policy for future early childhood education institutes, to implement a system, and to perform follow-up studies.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2020

Purpose: In this study, we will try to find out problems and improvements of the policies in order to verify whether the plans contribute to the health and welfare of the firefighters properly. Method: By the Delphi analysis by experts. Result: There are problems such as absence of Firefighters' hospital, insufficient mental health education program in fire department, lack of on-site risk assessment system, problem on ineffectiveness of mental and physical health care business, lack of substantiality on mental and physical stability program, absence of mental health education, ensuring the confidentiality for users of mental health programs, lack of support for parent firefighters, lack of firefighters' retirement design and insufficient treatment for female firefighters. Conclusion: There are Improvements such as establishing Firefighters' hospital, improving mental health education and training CISD leaders in the fire department, preparing disaster risk assessment system, effectiveness measurement for visiting psychological counseling projects, improving the program through customer satisfaction surveys, establishment of mental health education system, ensuring confidentiality by improving personnel systems, encourage childcare leave and introduce childcare facilities at fire stations, revitalizing retirement Firefighters and policy development for female firefighters.

• Korean Journal of Child Education & Care
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to find out the perception on childe abuse of pre-service childcare teachers who will become the closest witnesses to child abuse, and also whether they have the proper knowledge and attitude to report abuse. Methods: Surveys were conducted at five universities in Seoul and Kyonggi-province. We investigated students from child development major, and additionally students from other majors as a comparative group. Results: The results of this study are as follows: First, pre-service childcare teachers' level of abuse severity was significantly higher than other major students. They were more aware of child abuse reporting system and reporting obligations than other major students. Second, pre-service teachers had higher intention of reporting then other major students. However, both groups barely know about child protection institution, and have negative perception on the effect of reporting. Conclusion/Implications: In conclusion, this study suggests that pre-service teachers are more aware of child abuse and willing to report than other major students, however it is necessary to increase the reliability of report effectiveness. Also, it provide implications for future policy-making related to child abuse by suggesting that information transmission and promotion through mass media is necessary and efforts should be made to reduce the risk of disclosure of the identity of the complainant in reporting abuse.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.396-407
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• 2023

Background: This study investigated the awareness and utilization of maternity protection and work-family balance support policies among dental hygienists in dental hospitals and clinics. Methods: We surveyed 200 dental hygienists. Twenty-two who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded, leaving 178 participants for analysis. The self-administered 48-item questionnaire gathered information on demographics, workplace details, policy awareness, government knowledge, and suggestions for improvement. Results: Awareness of maternity and family support programs significantly differed with age, marital status, number of children, and clinical experience. Dental hygienists in general hospitals and university hospitals reported greater ease of utilizing these policies compared to those in dental clinics. Among the participants, 27.7% took pre- and post-maternity leave, 26.6% took parental leave, 16.9% had reduced working hours during pregnancy, 15.8% had reduced working hours during childhood,and 8.5% during family leave. To promote program uptake, participants suggested mandatory implementation across workplaces (68.4%), expanded support for substitute workers (48.6%), and increased education and promotion of government support (42.4%). Conclusion: While most dental hygienists were aware of the Maternity Protection and Work-Family Balance Assistance Policy, utilizing it proved challenging due to several factors. Organizational policies or practices may not fully implement this policy, while workplace culture could discourage its use. Unfair treatment and the lack of available substitutes further hindered access. To prevent career interruptions for dental hygienists due to pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, and family care, and to maintain career continuity, the dental community and government should establish a multifaceted social support system. This system should prioritize several key areas: strengthening policy promotion, fostering a family-friendly atmosphere, improving management and supervision of policy implementation and developing a robust support system for substitute personnel.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.169-193
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• 2013

This paper examines how a social investment approach can be applied in a comparative analysis of childcare arrangements. We compared changes in Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, Japan and Korea during the 2000s, focusing on four dimensions of social investment: activation, gender equality, quality of care, and the degree of state's intervention in the family. We considered leave systems and the number of children enrolled in formal care and education facilities as indicators for labour market activation. For gender equality, women's position in employment is considered with respect to labour market participation rates, proportion of permanent employment, and wage-sex ratio. Quality of care concerns child-to-staff ratio and care provided with government quality control. The state's intervention was measured as social spending on families as proportions of GDP and total social spending. Our analysis provides empirical evidence that Sweden and France are pioneers in this arena and that the UK, Germany, Korea, and Japan are path-shifters in their care paradigms, albeit to varying degrees. Is the social investment approach an adequate paradigm for care? In a normative sense, this approach has potential. However, the following issues remain unaddressed: gender equality should be achieved through an expansion in good-quality jobs, fathers should be encouraged to take on childcare duties, and families should have universal access to good-quality childcare services controlled by the government.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2009

The Korean Government has recently prepared the comprehensive five-year basic plan (2006-2010) to deal with low fertility and population ageing. The basic plan aims at recovering the fertility rate to the appropriate level and improving the social and economic systems in preparation for the aged society. The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of fertility policies on childbirth by birth order. The data came from 1,729 adults who gave birth to babies in 2007 and 991 adults as the control group. The serial logistic regression analyses revealed that establishing the health and nutrition system for maternity and children, and expanding of tax and social insurance benefit were effective policy measures to increase childbirths of first children, while the policy measures establishing the health and nutrition system for maternity and children, supporting for daycare and pre-school education, and work-life balance were effective to childbirths of second or third children in 2007. However, the policies of supporting for costs of test-tube baby and expanding childcare infra didn't have any significant influences on childbirths in 2007. The implications of study results were discussed.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.67-82
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• 2012

The first local exchange trading system(LETS), established in Comox Valley in Canada, aimed at facilitating the regional economy. However, in Korea, LETS was adopted to encourage mutual aid and promote community spirit among residents. This study examines the feasibility of LETS as a revitalization initiative for Pumasi and suggests a number of policies that can be implemented to support the project. The findings are as follows: First, the LETS credit system was found to complement social capital initiatives among Pumasi participants in the early stages of the Pumasi project. Second, combining LETS and Pumasi initiatives was found to consolidate community spirit and encourage a cooperative way of life among participants due to the fact that LETS enlarges the scope of local residents' participation and diversifies the services being exchanged. A number of policy suggestions are made for combining LETS with Pumasi. First, the project must define a vision of its long-term purpose and outcomes. Second, local residents should be employed as assistants to facilitate the project. Third, Pumasi participants should ensure that childcare exchange services are of the highest quality by providing an educational program on parenting. Fourth, the project manager's employment conditions and working environments must be guaranteed.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.151-181
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• 2016

This study examined professional development systems in America, England, and Australia, and devised ways to enhance early childhood teachers' professional development in Korea. To suggest effective ways to improve current professional development system and its operation, this research aimed to investigate first, advanced professional development systems and policies in three countries, America, England, and Australia, second, the process of teacher qualification and requirements for acquiring teacher credential and its maintenance, and lastly, the effort of quality control for professional development, its operation, and evaluation systems in three countries. Based on the analysis of the three country's systems, five solutions for effective professional development are suggested. First, it is necessary to differentiate requirements for teachers by the level of teacher credentials. Second, an incessant training process for professional development is required. Third, an individualized professional development plan should be set for an individual teacher for the best outcomes in professional competence. Fourth, instructors for professional development trainings are needed to ensure the quality of training. Lastly, individuals, organizations, and policy and its operation systems need to be considered holistically as a whole in the perspective of convergence in policy making and its operation for effective professional development.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.41-55
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parenting behavior and peer interaction on externalizing problem behaviors of preschoolers. The data of 953 49~55 month old preschoolers and their parents were extracted from the Korean Children Panel Survey of Child-Care Policy Research Institute(2012). This study was conducted with Structural Equation Modeling(SEM). The results of this study were as follows. First, parenting behavior had a direct influence on externalizing problem behaviors of preschoolers. Second, parenting behavior had a direct influence on preschoolers' peer interaction. Third, preschoolers' peer interaction had a direct influence on externalizing problem behaviors of preschoolers. Fourth, preschoolers' peer interaction had mediating effects on the relationship between parenting behavior and externalizing problem behaviors of preschoolers.