The "ideal worker" norm - depicting employees as fully committed, always available, and singularly devoted to work - remains a dominant expectation in many organizations. For men, deviating from this standard can result in career penalties, stigma, and challenges to their masculinity. Despite these risks, some men actively reject this norm, prioritizing work-life balance and embracing alternative career paths.
While existing research has examined the consequences of male non-conformity, little is known about the characteristics of those who defy these expectations. This study explores the traits, motivations, and experiences of men who challenge the "ideal worker" model. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with men from diverse occupations, organizations, and sectors in France and Spain, this research identifies key factors that shape their decisions and behaviors. By examining how these men navigate workplace and societal pressures, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of shifting gender norms and their implications for workplace equality.
Marc Grau-Grau is an Associate Professor of Social and Family Policies, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences, and Coordinator of the Joaquim Molins Figueras Childcare and Family Policies Chair at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.
From 2016 to 2022, he was a Research Fellow at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School. His research focuses on four key areas:
(1) work-family balance and fatherhood,
(2) childhood and childcare,
(3) family policies, and
(4) education and family relationships.
Marc is the co-editor of four books: The Work-Family Balance in Light of Globalization and Technology (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017), The New Ideal Worker (Springer, 2019), Engaged Fatherhood (Springer, 2022), and Human Flourishing (Springer, 2023). His work has been published in leading academic journals, including Organization, Journal of Business Research, Gender, Work & Organization, Journal of Family Issues, Children & Society, Frontiers of Sociology, and Revista Española de Sociología among others.
He holds a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Edinburgh, a Master’s in Political and Social Sciences from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and a degree in Business Administration from ESADE Business School. Marc is currently a co-editor of Community, Work & Family.
The seminar will be held in English.
Major information: Francesco Maria Barbini (francesco.barbini@unibo.it).