At the University of Lodz, we believe that the well-being of our community rests on work-life balance. The Work-Life Balance Team was established to support this idea by creating an environment where everyone can harmoniously combine their professional and personal lives.
The Team's activities include analysing the needs of individuals combining professional responsibilities with caring for loved ones, advising on flexible work arrangements, and promoting solutions that facilitate returning to work after breaks. Through these initiatives, we strive to build a work culture based on mutual respect and understanding, in line with the values that guide our university.
Tasks of the team
The aim of the Team is to support the university authorities and the entire academic community in implementing a policy of combining professional and care roles, sustainable work and work-life balance at the University of Lodz through:
- examining, monitoring and analysing the needs and expectations related to the operation of individuals in parenting and caring roles in the academic environment;
- providing advisory, consultative services and giving opinions on solutions for combining private and professional lives, in order to create a more family-friendly, friendly, and inclusive work environment;
- promoting a comprehensive approach to parenting (single parenting, patchwork parenting, etc.) or other family and caring roles (e.g., caring for grandchildren, relatives with disabilities, ageing or sick parents, and other family members);
- supporting and promoting solutions aimed at facilitating the return to work for individuals after extended absences (e.g., due to various leaves or sick leave), as well as preparing for termination of employment and retirement;
- incorporating parenting and caregiving into the Gender Equality Plan at the University of Lodz;
- promoting knowledge and raising awareness (including through information and educational activities) regarding the challenges of combining private and professional lives and sustainable work;
- proposing, consulting and promoting solutions aimed at supporting work-life balance;
- cooperating with experts and organisations that support work-life balance;
- implementing solutions and good practices regarding work-life balance that are recommended in the literature and implemented at other universities (Polish and international);
- other activities and initiatives to support the effective implementation of the work-life balance policy and the integration of professional and caregiving roles at the University of Lodz.
The Team was established by Regulation No. 99 of the Rector of the University of Lodz of 3 February 2025.
Composition of the team
The Work-Life Balance Team consists of representatives of faculties and organisational units at the University of Lodz, anti-discrimination experts, individuals representing entities involved in the implementation of the Gender Equality Plan, as well as representatives of trade unions operating at the University of Lodz, students and doctoral students.
The Team's secretariat is managed by the Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University.
The members of the Team were appointed by Regulation No. 99 of the Rector of the University of Lodz of 3 February 2025.
Members
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dr Emilia Garncarek
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Departament of Rural and Urban Studies and Sociology of Social Change, Faculty of Economics and Sociology
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dr hab. Joanna CewińskaPosition: University Professor, Head of Postgraduate Studies in Human Resource Management
Works at: Department of Strategy and Value-Based Management, Faculty of Management
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dr hab. Agnieszka Gawron
Position: associate professor
Works at: Department of Theory of Literature, Faculty of Philology
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dr Lilianna Światek
Position: senior specialist
Works at: Secretary Office of the Union of Polish Teachers (ZNP) Works Council
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dr Karolina Messyasz
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of the Sociology of Politics and Morality, Faculty of Economics and Sociology
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dr Aleksandra Różalska
Position: Assistant Professor
Works at: Department of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Philology
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dr hab. Katarzyna Serafin
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of Labour Law, Social Security and Social Policy, Faculty of Law and Administration
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dr Izabela Ślęzak-Niedbalska
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of the Sociology of Organization and Management, Faculty of Economics and Sociology
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dr Paulina Bunio-Mroczek
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of Applied Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Economics and Sociology
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dr Izabela Desperak
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of the Sociology of Politics and Morality, Faculty of Economics and Sociology
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dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of Relations Psychology and Interpersonal Diversity, Faculty of Educational Sciences
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dr Magdalena Nowicka-Franczak
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of the Sociology of Culture, Faculty of Economics and Sociology
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mgr Honorata Pytloch-Ogieniewska
Position: head specialist
Works at: Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University
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dr Agata Włodarska-Frykowska
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Department of Political Systems, Faculty of International and Political Studies
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dr hab. Katarzyna Zajda
Position: assistant professor
Works at: Departament of Rural and Urban Studies and Sociology of Social Change, Faculty of Economics and Sociology
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Bartosz Stępień
Position: Director
Works at: Support and Accessibility Centre
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