International Network on Leave Policies & Research
The International Network on Leave Policies and Research (LP&R) provides a unique forum for exchange, dialogue and collaboration on issues of care, employment and gender. It consists of over 150 members, all experts on leave issues and who come from over 50 countries across the world.
In existence since 2004, LP&R holds yearly seminars in a host country (Programme 2026) and produces a yearly Annual Review (Review 2026).
Coordinators 2021–2026
LP&R is led in a collaborative spirit with shared responsibilities.
Marian Baird
Australia
Professor of Gender and Employment Relations and Head of the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney
EmailCopy email to clipboard
Andrea Doucet
Canada
Professor of Sociolgy and Women's and Gender Studies at Brock University and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Gender, Work and Care
EmailCopy email to clipboard
Johanna Lammi-Taskula
Finland
Research Manager at Welfare State Research Unit at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
EmailCopy email to clipboard
Gerardo Meil
Spain
Head of the Department of Sociology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
EmailCopy email to clipboard2027 Annual Seminar will be held in MODENA, ITALY!
History
The founding leave seminar held in Brussels in October 2004 was attended by researchers from a dozen countries, and built on earlier collaborative cross-national work with which the network coordinators – Fred Deven (CBGS – Population and Family Study Centre, Belgium) and Peter Moss (Thomas Coram Research Unit, United Kingdom) – had both been involved. This collaboration began with the European Commission Childcare Network (EC Network), an expert group that between 1986 and 1996 undertook studies on a range of issues related to the reconciliation of employment and family responsibilities, including leave policies. When the EC Network ended in 1996, collaboration continued.
Alison Koslowski, Margaret O'Brien, Ann-Zofie Duvander in the front; Peter Moss, Fred Deven in the back
First it startet with an international seminar convened in Brussels in 1999 that led to an edited book Parental Leave: Progress or Pitfall?, an article overviewing leave policy and research (Marriage and Family Review, special issue on Family Social Policy, 39/3-4, 2006); and then with a special issue of the journal Community, Work and Family (2002, 5/3) on the theme of leave arrangements for parents.
Fred Deven and Peter Moss co-ordinated the leave network until 2015.
From 2015 to 2021 Margaret O'Brien and Ann-Zofie Duvander shared responsibilities of coordinating the LP&R Network (see photo, Peter Moss and Fred Deven with Alison Koslowski (Editor Review), Marian O'Brien, Ann-Zofie Duvander).