The Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) invites submissions for the 2014 Conference, Changing Work and Family Relationships in a Global Economy, to be held June 19-21, 2014 at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City. We seek fresh and innovative scientific contributions on work and family issues from investigators in diverse disciplines. We value all disciplinary perspectives on the issues, including, but not limited to, anthropology, business and management, economics, family studies, political science, psychology, public health, social work, sociology, and related fields. The voices of all stakeholders are needed to understand and address work and family issues to advance knowledge and practice. We also encourage policy advocates, policy makers, and work-life practitioners to submit evidence-based contributions. New for 2014 is the addition of practitioners to the program committee, in an effort to encourage practitioner and policy-oriented submissions and promotion of researcher and practitioner/policy maker collaboration.  Also new is organizing the meeting to kick off with a preconference of meetings of Early Career Scholars, WFRN officers, committees, and member volunteers on June 18.

Submission deadline to WFRN Conference website: October 18, 2013.

The 2012 inaugural conference was a huge success! There were over 750 presenters and 125 sessions that discussed the latest work and family research from around the world. Approximately 30% of the attendees were from outside the U.S., and represented more than 30 countries. Like the 2012 conference, we expect that the 2014 conference will draw many global attendees in addition to providing numerous opportunities for networking and sharing ideas with colleagues.

Fresh and innovative submissions responsive to the conference theme of Changing Work and Family Relationships in a Global Economy are especially encouraged. The global economy is transforming the way work is done.  Work intensification and wide variation across societies in over- and under-employment is creating new issues for individuals, families, employers and nations. Advancing technology blurring work and home and social boundaries, the growing power of social media, and the coming of age of the “Digital Natives” are reshaping the fundamental meaning of “work,” “family,” and “life.” Increasing globalization and the growing footprint of transnational companies and growing international work and social systems, requires looking both within and across cultures to understand changing work and family relationships. Indeed, cultural values surrounding gender, norms concerning collectivism and individualism in achieving the greater good, and national attributions as to whether work and family issues are best served by government, employer or individual initiatives require scientific and practical scrutiny and evidence-based debate.

Learn more about the WFRN conference, including confirmed speakers, specific goals, types of sessions, and submission process at: http://workfamily.sas.upenn.edu/content/call-papers