Reconciling personal, family and professional life of self-employed: current situation and proposals for legal changes

Abstract

Although based on a different legal framework, representatives of the whole area of issues of reconciling personal, family and professional life need to include the selfemployed, who are often neglected in the analysis of this topic. The fact is that contrary to the process for employees, not only are there no legal mechanisms implemented for the self-employed as those that benefit employees (sick leave, shortening of a working week, retirement from employment, protection against dismissal, etc.), but there are no minimum provisions in this area. Thus, it is not surprising, that in the majority of cases these workers must make a choice between giving up their family obligations or their work. This paper deals with it and with some proposals for legal changes.