This brief and accessible title integrates contemporary scholarly research with compelling vignettes to make it appealing to both instructors and undergraduate audiences. While focused on the United States in respect to its target audience and emphasis, this book contains considerable international data that compares and contrasts social policies adopted in Europe and elsewhere. In so doing, it shows both the strengths and the limitations of the approaches used in the U.S. This title is the only single source that summarizes the origins of work-family concerns, the diversities of needs and experiences, the impact of tensions of the family front, the consequences of tensions for employers, and different types of policies that can make meaningful differences not only in the lives of employees, but also potentially in job quality and national productivity. Key features: The Work-Family Interface is one of the newest additions to SAGE's Contemporary Family Perspectives series. Sweet integrates contemporary scholarly research with compelling vignettes, including contributions from 22 leaders in the work-family field who identify the core contributions of their scholarship. This title offers a domestic focus combined with the opportunity to compare and contrast international data for a consideration of relevant social policies adopted in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Work-family concerns are addressed from the interests of caregivers, employers, and also societies, and central concerns and concepts are identified and illustrated, providing an ideal introduction to the reasons why work-family connections need to be recognized and harmonized. Chapters include "Issues to Ponder," questions challenging readers to identify their own stance on how best to harmonize work and family spheres, as well as "Mini Projects" that can be integrated as course assignments. -- from back cover.