ABOUT THE EVENT

Work and Family Researchers Network on June 19-22, 2024 at Concordia University.  The university is located at 1450 Guy Street Montreal, Quebec Canada.  Registration is in the John Molson School of Business (JMSB) also known as the “MB building”.

The 2024 conference theme is Big Questions in Work-Family, which will be part of a two-year agenda. These are the cutting-edge global questions that are not yet fully answered or recognized, including:

  1. CHANGES IN WORK – What are the meanings of work at different life stages, for different groups, and in different kinds of jobs? How is work organized? What is the future of work and for whom?
  2. CHANGES IN FAMILY LIFE – How are families and family experiences changing around the globe and what changes might we expect? For example, fertility rates are declining in high-income countries and there are reports of an epidemic of loneliness. What other changes are evident and what are the implications?
  3. CHANGES IN WORK-LIFE INTERFACE: What theories, concepts, and measures best explain new and emerging intersections between work and family?
  4. THE LIFE COURSE – How do changes in work and family impact children and their capacities to enter adult roles, for adults to successfully navigate transitions, and for older populations to age well?
  5. SOLUTIONS AND PROMISING PRACTICES – What are the most promising solutions in policy and practice in the global north and south? What are the challenges and best opportunities for advancing equity and social justice?

The conference’s objective is to chart an agenda for the future of work-family research, policy and practice. In addition to sharing new research and seeking answers to big questions, this will be a working conference, fostering active participation and connectivity among diverse groups. We anticipate more than 500 work-family stakeholders in attendance and a dynamic program centered on meaningful exchange.  There will be numerous events to connect a global community of scholars with thought leaders in media, philanthropy, practice, policy, and social change.

With excitement about the years ahead,

Ellen Galinsky, WFRN President

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SPECIAL VIDEO MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ELLEN GALINSKY

The 2024 Final Program is Now Available

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FINAL PROGRAM

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

Questions regarding the program can be directed to program coordinator Sam Castonguay at workfamilyrn@gmail.com

In preparation for the Biennial Conference we ask that participants immediately:

  • Check the conference program to make sure that your presentation is included as intended. If there are questions or concerns, please contact program coordinator Sam Castonguay at workfamilyrn@gmail.com.
  • Update your profile on the WFRN membership platform. It is important that you do this because the Montreal Tourism Bureau is providing the WFRN with compensation for each person we draw from beyond Quebec. We are using those funds to enhance the event. We cannot receive this compensation if information on participants is incomplete. On the left menu you will see “Update my profile”.  Be sure that your profile shows your:
    • Name
    • City
    • Province/State
    • Country
    • Postal code
  • Check your visa and passport for entry to Canada. S. citizens are reminded that a current passport is required for entry to Canada.  If you have already applied for a visa, but not have yet received approval, the WFRN can potentially help expedite your approval.  Please email to info@wfrn.org the following information as it appears on your travel document: first name, last name, passport country of issuance, and visa application number (example: V123456789). We will advance this information for expedited review.
  • Secure hotel reservations. Hotel listings and other information about the conference can be located on the WFRN conference webpage.

By June 1, 2024, we ask that paper presenters:

  • Post a revised detailed abstract in advance of the conference by logging into the WFRN conference submission portal https://wfrn.mymeetingsavvy.net. Edit your existing submission (do not create a new submission). Revised abstracts will be made available to all conference participants in advance of the conference. The detailed abstract (1000 words maximum) should follow this structure and use these headings:
    • Overarching questions/concerns
    • Statement on methods
    • Important findings (bulleted list)
    • Implications for research, policy and/or practice
  • If it meets your interest, nominate your paper for consideration of a 2024 Best Conference Presentation Award by following this link. https://ithaca.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2oc0UEjwOruDXHE

Prior to arriving in Montreal, we ask that presenters and presiders:

  • Prepare presentations to last no longer than 13 minutes. We advise that you structure your presentation to follow the above abstract format and dispense with non-essential content such as reviews of prior literature or explorations of tangential concerns.  We advise that you practice in advance of the conference so that your presentation does not exceed the maximum length of 13 minutes.
  • If you are identified as a session presider, please review the guidance posted on the WFRN conference webpage. As a designated presider, you play an important role in making sure all presenters have ample opportunity to share their research.  We ask that you time each presentation and clearly signal when a presenter’s allotted time is near completion.  We advise that you hold questions for all presenters until the end of the session and guide interaction to engage all presenters.  You can consider highlighting how the combined contributions of the different presentations contribute to the conference theme of Big Questions in Work-Family.
  • If you are presenting a poster, anticipate that in the presentation hall there will be easels on which you can hang your poster. Each easel will have a 3 foot by 4 foot rigid poster board, on which your poster can be affixed.  Thumb tacks and clips will be available.  Easels will not be pre-assigned.  Please plan to hang your poster on any available easel in advance of the beginning of your poster session and remove your poster at the conclusion of the session.

More about the Conference

Big Questions in Work-Family: A Different Kind of Conference

The 2024 WFRN conference focuses on Big Questions in Work-Family. The conference’s objective is to chart an agenda for the future of work-family research, policy and practice. In addition to sharing new research and seeking answers to big questions, this will be a working conference, designed to foster active participation and connectivity among diverse groups.

Instead of conventional plenaries – that touch only those present, we wanted to share some of the field’s best thinking to shape the debate and action on work-family issues world-wide. Thus, we are creating a series of TED-like Big Ideas Talks.  Invited speakers will share their big ideas for addressing some of today’s biggest challenges in work and family. They will share personal stories to illustrate of research findings, as well as guide participants to connect emotionally and intellectually with insights advanced.  The Big Ideas Talks will be professionally filmed and disseminated widely following the conference.

Instead of conventional sessions – the conference program features tightly-packed presentations in thematic sessions designed to foster new insights and synthesis.  Conference participants are encouraged to review paper abstracts in their own sessions and in sessions that they intend to attend prior to the conference. Come prepared with questions/observations.

Connectivity – we observed that the very best conferences draw people into meaningful exchanges.  Our hopes are that you will leave the event rich with new insights, new ideas and new relationships.  Toward that end we encourage all participants to gather at

  • Lunches provided on site on Thursday and Friday
  • The Gala Reception at the historic Windsor Ballrooms on Thursday evening
  • Coffee/conversation stations present throughout the conference
  • Unstructured sidebar sessions that draw together members of networking communities and those with shared interests on specific topical concerns

Mentorship and Networking – lastly, we ask all participants help others to feel embraced by the WFRN community.  Here are specific contributions that you might consider:

  • At the registration desk you will find ribbons to affix to your nametag. These ribbons will help others understand your interests and relationships in the WFRN.
  • If you are at mid and later career stages, reach out to others to share your guidance and experiences, especially scholars at their early career stages.
  • If you are at the earlier career stages, put yourself out there (even if it’s difficult) and chat with others. They will welcome you!
  • Consider joining a Networking Dinner. The deadline for expressing interest has been extended to May 15. More information about Networking Dinners can be found on the WFRN conference webpage To register follow this link: https://ithaca.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M6dajybOiLqYXY.
  • Join others in networking community encounters.

GUIDANCE FOR PRESENTERS

All presentation rooms will have access to a computer, projector, screen, and internet.  We advise that participants bring presentations on a flash drive and also have their presentation available for download.  Presentations will not be advance-loaded by WFRN staff.  Technical assistance will be present, but staffing will be limited.

The conference program features tightly-packed presentations in thematic sessions designed to foster new insights and synthesis.  Presentations should be no longer than 13 minutes.  To accomplish these objectives, we ask presenters to:

  • Compose a detailed abstract (1000 words maximum) of your presentation using the following heading structure:
    • Overarching questions/concerns
    • Statement on methods
    • Important findings (bulleted list)
    • Implications for research, policy and/or practice
  • Post your revised abstract in advance of the conference by logging into the WFRN conference submission portal https://wfrn.mymeetingsavvy.net. Your revised abstract will be made available to all conference participants.
  • Structure your presentation to follow the above format and dispense with non-essential content such as reviews of prior literature or explorations of tangential concerns.
  • Practice in advance of the conference so that your presentation does not exceed the maximum length of 13 minutes.
  • Review paper abstracts in your session and in sessions that you intend to attend prior to the conference. Come prepared with questions/observations.

Instructions for Poster Presenters

In the presentation hall, there will be easels on which you can hang your posters.  Each easel will have a 3 foot by 4 foot rigid poster board, on which posters can be affixed.  Thumb tacks and clips will be available in the presentation hall.  Easels will not be pre-assigned.  Please plan to hang your poster on any available easel in advance of the beginning of your poster session and remove your poster at the conclusion of the session.

Instructions for Moderators/Presiders

As a designated moderator/presider, you play an important role in making sure all presenters have ample opportunity to share their research.  We ask that you time each presentation and clearly signal when a presenter’s allotted time is near completion.  We advise that you hold questions for all presenters until the end of the session and guide interaction with the audience to engage all presenters.  You can consider highlighting how the combined contributions of the different presentations contribute to the conference theme of Big Questions.

Are you coming to Montreal but are not a Canadian citizen?  Check your passport now, as you will need it to enter the country (including from the United States).  For information on travel requirements to Canada, please see this website.

https://travel.gc.ca/

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada.html?outside

IMPORTANT – WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VISAS FROM SOME COUNTRIES CAN TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO PROCESS. IF YOU NEED A VISA, PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY.

If you have already applied for a visa, but not have yet received approval, the WFRN can potentially help expedite your approval.  Please email to info@wfrn.org the following information as it appears on your travel document: first name, last name, passport country of issuance, and visa application number (example: V123456789). We will advance this information for expedited review.

Registration Reception

Registration reception will be on the first floor atrium of the John Molson School of Business (JMSB) also known as the “MB building” located at 1450 Guy Street Montreal, Quebec Canada.  The registration desk will be open Wednesday 9am-5pm, Thursday 8am-5pm, Friday 8am-5pm, and Saturday 8am-1:30pm.

Coffee and snack stations are located in the MB Atrium 1st floor and MB 3rd floor throughout the conference. Additional coffee and snacks will be provided in MB9 (9th floor) concurrent with poster presentations on Thursday and Friday afternoons.

You can register for the 2024 conference by following this link:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Registration Fees and Timing

All conference attendees are expected to register and become WFRN members.  Those presenting papers must be paid registrants no later than March 1, 2024, otherwise (owing to logistical concerns) their papers/sessions will be removed from the conference program.

Membership Categories and Fees

  • Student Membership 2024 – $99
  • Low Income Membership 2024 -$109
  • Emeritus Membership 2024 – $169
  • Regular Membership 2024 – $215
  • Sustaining Membership 2024 – $329
  • Organization Partner Not For Profit – $569
  • Organization Partner For Profit – $952

On Time (Before March 1, 2024) Registration Categories and Fees

  • Student Member Registration 2024 – $219
  • Low-income Member Registration 2024 – $225
  • Emeritus Member Registration 2024 – $349
  • Regular Member Registration 2024 – $359
  • CUWFA Member Registration 2024 – $359
  • Non-member Registration 2024 – $665.00

Late (After March 1, 2024) Registration Categories and Fees

  • Late Student Member Registration 2024 -$279
  • Late Low-Income Member Registration 2024 – $289
  • Late Emeritus Member Registration 2024 – $409
  • Late Regular Member Registration 2024 –  $419
  • Late CUWFA Member Registration 2024  – $419
  • Late Non-Member Registration 2024 – $725

Financial Support

The WFRN is pleased to offer discounted membership and registration fees to students, those with low incomes, and emeriti.  If you are a work-family researcher or work-family student with financial need, please contact the WFRN Executive Office at info@wfrn.org explaining your circumstances.  The generous support of WFRN members and donors makes it possible to provide a limited number of reduced or waived membership/registration fees.

Conference delegates are welcomed to join together from 7pm-9pm on Thursday June 20 at the historic Windsor Ballrooms, located at 1170 rue Peel.  The reception will provide open bar, hors d’oeuvres and opportunity celebrate our vibrant community.

Networking Dinners

The WFRN helps scholars, across all career stages, connect with others with shared research interests.  One way we do this is by organizing Networking Dinners at the Biennial Conference.  At these events, members of the WFRN community are formed into small groups of approximately 6 individuals and meet at restaurants for conversation and enjoyment.

This year Networking Dinners are scheduled for 7pm Friday June 21, 2024 with parties meeting at venues of their own choosing.  The Networking Dinner groups have been formed and finalized (see below) and members have been provided contact information via email from the WFRN Executive Office.  We regret that we cannot add additional names at this point.

Individuals listed as leaders generously agreed to facilitate the group’s logistics following the guidance presented below.  If you do not see a leader identified, a member of the group will need to step forward to serve in this capacity.  The group leader’s responsibilities are to:

  • Contact your assigned dinner group, identify yourself as the leader, and initiate discussion on venue preferences.
  • Propose a venue to your dinner group, being considerate of price and transportation logistics from the conference and hotel venues.
  • Secure a reservation at the venue for 7pm Friday June 21, 2024. Please do not make the reservation in the name of the WFRN as that might lead to confusion if other groups also make reservations at that same venue.
  • Communicate with your group on where and when to meet, logistics of getting to the venue, and your contact information.
  • Represent your dinner party at the venue and work with servers to provide individual dinner checks to each in your party (so that everyone can get reimbursed by their institutions). Note that the WFRN does not cover dinner expenses.

At this point, management of the Networking Dinners falls to group leaders, who will contact all in their group and work with their group to identify a preferred restaurant.  We advise that reservations be made by June 1, 2024.

Name Leader Networking Group Networking Group Name
Ha-Young Choi 1 Aging and Retirement
Jasmin Dorry 1 Aging and Retirement
Shirley Porterfield 1 Aging and Retirement
Harchand Ram 1 Aging and Retirement
Stefania Molina 1 Aging and Retirement
Eriko Teramura 1 Aging and Retirement
Hugh Bainbridge Leader 2 Childcare and Eldercare
Elizabeth Adamson 2 Childcare and Eldercare
Gabrielle Pepin 2 Childcare and Eldercare
Grace Huang 2 Childcare and Eldercare
Winnie Lam 2 Childcare and Eldercare
Elena Pojman 2 Childcare and Eldercare
Ariane Ophir Leader 1 3 Demography
Megan N Reed Leader 2 3 Demography
Federica Querin 3 Demography
Haoming Song 3 Demography
Shiyu Yuan 3 Demography
Cosmas Augustus Uhuo Leader 1 4 Disability Concerns
Lisa Stewart Leader 2 4 Disability Concerns
Haley Cobb Leader 3 4 Disability Concerns
Eveline Limba Ngwane 4 Disability Concerns
Tara Hastoo 4 Disability Concerns
Ipshita Pal Leader 1 5.1 Employer Policies and HR Management
Minjin Chae Leader 2 5.1 Employer Policies and HR Management
Amy Pytlovany 5.1 Employer Policies and HR Management
Hak-Yoon Kim 5.1 Employer Policies and HR Management
Jaeseung Kim 5.1 Employer Policies and HR Management
Viva Nsair Leader 5.2 Employer Policies and HR Management
Mary Brinton 5.2 Employer Policies and HR Management
Masaki Hosomi 5.2 Employer Policies and HR Management
Mengyi Xu 5.2 Employer Policies and HR Management
Patricia (Patty) Stoddard Dare 5.2 Employer Policies and HR Management
Sam Yuan 6 Family Dynamics and Wellbeing
Amanda Deeley 6 Family Dynamics and Wellbeing
Kate McCredie 6 Family Dynamics and Wellbeing
Margo Hilbrecht Leader 6 Family Dynamics and Wellbeing
Kimberly McErlean 6 Family Dynamics and Wellbeing
Rahat shah 6 Family Dynamics and Wellbeing
Shabnoor Nabi 6 Family Dynamics and Wellbeing
Kwaku Abrefa Busia 7.1 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Emme Rogers 7.1 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Amanda Peters 7.1 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Emma Graham 7.1 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Eunjeong Paek 7.1 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Jan Müller 7.1 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Vedavati Patwardhan Leader 7.2 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Julia Melin 7.2 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Laila Schmitt 7.2 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Manlin Cai 7.2 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Marta Gospodarczyk 7.2 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Ohjae Gowen 7.2 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Winnie Yang Leader 7.3 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Prudence Bongekile Mabaso 7.3 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Tracey Freiberg 7.3 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Vanessa Conzon 7.3 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Yuan Zhen 7.3 Gender Dynamics and Inequalities
Jing Guo 8 Household Labor
Allison Daminger 8 Household Labor
Hou Jiahui 8 Household Labor
Hyunjae Kwon 8 Household Labor
Jaclyn Wong 8 Household Labor
Kamila Kolpashnikova 8 Household Labor
Dominic Violi 9 Identities, Health and Strain
Laura Yang 9 Identities, Health and Strain
Jarrod Haar 9 Identities, Health and Strain
Faezeh Amirkamali 9 Identities, Health and Strain
Anastasiia Voloshyna 10 Occupations & Work Relations
Brigid Schulte 10 Occupations & Work Relations
Erica Mildner 10 Occupations & Work Relations
Lona Choi-Allum 10 Occupations & Work Relations
Sam Castonguay 10 Occupations & Work Relations
So Yun Park 10 Occupations & Work Relations
Marie Gendron Leader 11 Public Policies
Lindsey McKay 11 Public Policies
Mia Tammelin 11 Public Policies
Moldir Kabylova 11 Public Policies
Sophie Mathieu 11 Public Policies
LeaAnne DeRigne 11 Public Policies
Cynthia Halliday Leader 1 12 Research Methodology
Maximiliane Reifenscheid Leader 2 12 Research Methodology
Salmaan Khan 12 Research Methodology
Alena Klenke 12 Research Methodology
Hideki Nakazato 13.1 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Kaumudi Misra 13.1 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Lianara Dreyer 13.1 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Meraiah Foley 13.1 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Stephanie ChanAhuja Leader 13.2 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Minjee Keh 13.2 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Xi Wen (Carys) Chan 13.2 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Kelly Basile 13.2 Scheduling, Leave and Flexible Work
Yanick Provost Savard Leader 14 Spillover
Wendy Nilsen 14 Spillover
Victoria Daniel 14 Spillover
Sara Bayes 14 Spillover

Submit Your Nomination for the WFRN Best Conference Paper Award by June 1, 2024

Award Description

This award recognizes the author(s) of an original paper identified as the “best conference paper.” The Best Conference Paper Award creates (and recreates) excitement at each conference about papers that are innovative and have the potential to “move the field” forward.

Eligibility

WFRN members who present at the biennial conference.

Nomination Procedure

Calls for nominations are publicized in the conference program and in conference communications.  Anyone can nominate a paper for consideration.  Please submit your nomination by following this link:

https://ithaca.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2oc0UEjwOruDXHE

Selection Procedure

The Awards Committee evaluates nominations on the following criteria, basing analysis on the paper submission abstracts.

  • Importance of the research question
  • Quality of methods
  • Advancement of theory
  • Potential impact on future research
  • Potential impact on practice or policy

If no clear top recipient is identified, the committee can elect to designate more than one recipient. In order to recognize the potential of scholars at their early career stages, the committee is encouraged to consider the career stage of nominees.

Award Selection Schedule

The award recipient(s) are selected within one month following the conclusion of the biennial conference.

Concordia University is located at 1450 Guy Street Montreal, Quebec Canada.

Book Your Room at Sheraton Le Centre Montreal Hotel

The deadline for booking discount rooms at the Sheraton Le Centre Montreal Hotel has now passed.  However, participants may still wish to book their stays at this hotel as it is only a short walk to Concordia University and the Windsor Ballrooms gala reception.

Book Your Room at Concordia University (Student Housing)

The WFRN has secured limited very low-cost rooms on the Concordia campus (student housing).  To book your room, visit the accommodation website to easily reserve online: https://www.concordia.ca/summerstays.  Room rates are approximately $61-$87 USD ($76-$109 Canadian)

  • To benefit from a 10% discount, use the following COUPON code: WFRN24
  • To see the maximum number of room types available change the default setting from 2 to 1 adult.
  • The discount is valid from June 17 to June 23, 2024.
  • There is no block, so rooms are available on a first-come first-served basis. Reserve early.

Other Options

The 2024 conference is located within walking distance or short driving distance from many hotels.  Some of these hotels are listed below, along with estimated distances from the Concordia University Conference Center and estimated room charges.

Hotel Name Street Address Distance Est. Prices
Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa 1240 Drummond St 700 Meters 169 CAD
Best Western Ville-Marie Montreal Hotel & Suites 3407 Peel St 850 meters 127 CAD
Chateau Versailles Hotel 1659 Rue Sherbrooke O 400 Meters 163 CAD
Comfort Suites Downtown 1214 Crescent St 550 Meters 175 CAD
Embassy Suites by Hilton Montreal 208 Rue Saint-Antoine O 2.3 KM 189 CAD
Holiday Inn & Suites Monteal Centre-Ville 1390, Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest 600 Meters 246 CAD
Hotel Espresso Montreal 1005 Guy St 500 Meters 156 CAD
Hotel Omni Mont-Royal 1050 Sherbrooke St W 850 Meters 263 CAD
InterContinental Montreal, an IHG Hotel 360 Rue Saint-Antoine O 2.1 KM 220 CAD
Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel IN ROOM BLOCK 1201 René-Lévesque Blvd W 900 Meters 289 CAD
Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites 1193 R. du Square-Phillips 1.5 KM 242 CAD
Le St-Martin Montreal Hotel Particulier 980 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest 600 Meters 245 CAD
Novotel Montreal Centre 1180 Rue de la Montagne 700 Meters 273 CAD
Pierce Hotel by Simplissimmo 1650 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest 130 Meters 200 CAD
Residence Inn By Marriott Montreal Downtown 2045 Peel St 700 Meters 218 CAD
W Montreal 901 Rue du Square-Victoria 2 KM 326 CAD
Warwick Le Crystal 1100 Rue de la Montagne 700 Meters 251 CAD

Early Career Work and Family Fellowship Program

The Work and Family Researchers Network is committed to mentoring the next generation of work and family scholars. Our Early Career Fellowship Program provides support for recent doctoral recipients to advance their research, teaching, and long-term career prospects. By offering networked resources and consultation, we help promising new scholars move into tenure-track, tenured appointments and secure senior-level positions, as well as engage them with the work and family community of scholars. The WFRN provided a call for applications, which ended October 15, 2023, and anticipates a similar call in advance of the next biennial conference.

The WFRN Welcomes 2024 Early Career Fellowship Recipients!

The WFRN’s Early Career Fellowship Program is co-directed by Nicole Denier and Yang Hu, who organized this year’s preconference and will guide the 2024 cohort moving forward.   To date, 140 early career scholars have participated in this program, which is designed to deliver a variety of supports for advancement to secure senior-level positions, as well as assist attendance at the WFRN Conference. The call for applications for the 2024 fellowships yielded close to 70 applications. With thanks to the selection committee Renada Goldberg, Nicole Denier, and Yang Hu, we are delighted to announce this year’s fellowship recipients.

  • Mariam Abouelenin, Ph.D., Lancaster University, UK
  • Kwaku Abrefa Busia, Ph.D., Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China
  • Weverthon Barbosa Machado, Ph.D., Utrecht University, the Netherlands
  • Miriam Barcus, Ph.D., The State University of New York at Cortland, USA
  • Sarah Bourdeau, Ph.D., University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada
  • Haley Cobb, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, USA
  • Vanessa Conzon, Ph.D., Boston College, USA
  • LaToya Council, Ph.D., Lehigh University, USA
  • Allison Daminger, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, USA
  • Moses Dang, Ph.D., Teesside University, UK
  • Victoria Daniel, Ph.D., York University, Canada
  • Camille Desjardins, Ph.D., Renmin University, China
  • Juliana de Castro Galvao, Ph.D., University of Oxford, UK
  • Christina Hymer, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, USA
  • Cynthia Halliday, Ph.D., The University of Texas at El Paso, USA
  • Sidra Kamran, Ph.D., Lewis & Clark College, USA
  • Nicole Kapelle, Ph.D., Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
  • Thomas Lyttelton, Ph.D., Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
  • Eunjeong Paek, Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
  • Vedavati Patwardhan, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, USA
  • Federica Querin, Ph.D., University of Bologna, Italy
  • Harchand Ram, Ph.D., International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
  • Megan N. Reed, Ph.D., Emory University, USA
  • Joseph Regina, Ph.D., Rutgers University, USA
  • Laila Schmitt, Ph.D., LMU Munich, Germany
  • Meredith Slopen, Ph.D., CUNY Graduate Center, USA
  • Haoming Song, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, USA
  • Daniela R. Urbina Julio, Ph.D., University of Southern California, USA
  • Lili Vargha, Ph.D., Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
  • Mengyi Xu, Ph.D., Birmingham University, UK

Recipients represent a wide range of disciplines, including the fields of economics, human resources, management, human development, organizational science, public health, public policy, psychology, social work, demography, and sociology. This year’s Early Career Fellows (ECFs) are also internationally diverse—they either live on, or study the experiences of people living on, all six habitable continents. Fellowship recipients share a common interest in identifying connections and consequences of work and family arrangements, as well as working together to advance mutual career interests and goals. 

The ECFs’ research programs address a wide variety of topics that include, gender and intersectional inequality, work-family conflict, spillover, crossover and boundary management, work-family dynamics over the life course, employee health, stress, and well-being, state and organizational-level family-related policies (parental leave, sick leave, child subsidies), cognitive labor and the mental load, remote work and teleworking, workplace EDI, care and domestic work, poverty, among other topics. As a group, this year’s ECFs share a passion for examining the experiences of traditionally under-studied groups in work-family research, including people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, women of color, and families and workers in the Global South, as well as addressing pertinent challenges and opportunities, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization, for work and family lives.

We welcome these scholars to the program and their participation in the Work and Family Researchers Network!  

Contact Information

Nicole Denier, Ph.D. (nicole.denier@ualberta.ca) and Yang Hu, Ph.D. Yang Hu (yang.hu@lancaster.ac.uk) are Co-directors of the Early Career Work and Family Fellowship Program.

Preconference Program

WFRN Early Career Fellows Conference FINAL PROGRAM

The 2024 Predoctoral Preconference will feature a set of workshops intended to help graduate students form meaningful connections, navigate education-to-career transitions, learn about publication strategies, as well as how to engage with stakeholders such as organizational leaders or policy advocates.  The preconference will be from 1pm to 5pm June 19 at Concordia University in Montreal Canada. The Pre-Doctoral Preconference is being organized by former and current WFRN Board Members Wen Fan and Jaeseung Kim. Questions can be directed to the organizers.  Participants can anticipate receiving a program of events proximate to May 15, 2024.

WFRN_Predoc_Preconference_Program 6-5-24 FINAL

We are pleased to include the following individuals in the 2024 Predoctoral Preconference
Name Discipline Institution Country
Naz Ahmad Human Resources Management York University Canada
Daniel Kennedy Amoah Sociology Memorial University of Newfoundland Canada
Maximilian Becker Sociology Goethe University Frankfurt Deutschland
Johannes Binder Economics Goethe University Frankfurt Germany
Kathryn Brett Management Australian National University Australia
Manlin Cai Sociology University of British Columbia Canada
Eunho Cha Social Work Columbia University United States
Julie Chacra Youth Work, Educational and Complexity Sciences Concordia University Canada
Minjin Chae Sociology Harvard University United States
Stephanie Chan-Ahuja Organizational Behavior London Business School United Kingdom
Subin Chang Sociology Goethe University Frankfurt Germany
Youngmin Chu Public Affairs University of Minnesota United States
Jasmin Dorry Psychology RWTH Aachen University Germany
Lianara Dreyer Sociology Helmut-Schmidt-University Hamburg Germany
Patience Enchill Sociology Hohai University China
Feranaaz Farista Organizational Psychology University of Cape Town South Africa
Mariam Gbajumo-Sheriff Human Resource Management University of Lagos Nigeria
Laura Good Employment Relations University of Sydney Australia
Magdalena Grabowska Economics, Psychology University of Warsaw Poland
Emma Graham Law Australian National University Australia
Patricia Guerrero Management University of Texas at Arlington United States
Ian Van Haren Sociology McGill University Canada
Jiahui Hou Sociology Kobe University Japan
Stephen Ebuka Iloke Industrial and Organizational Psychology Chukwuemeka Odumegwu University Nigeria
Gonzague Isirabahenda Sociology and social work Babes-Bolyai University Romania
Seohyun Jung Social Policy University of Kent United Kingdom
Aga Kasperska Psychology and Economics University of Warsaw Poland
Priya Kataria Gender, Work and organization Goa Institute of Management India
Moses Kayanja Management Multitech Business School Uganda
MinJee Keh Social Welfare UC Berkeley United States
Hyunjae Kwon Sociology University of Minnesota United States
Kristine Lescoeur Social and Organizational Psychology Oslo Metropolitan University Norway
Olga Leshchenko Sociology University of Konstanz Germany
Yifan Liu Media and Communications；Sociology London School of Economics and Political Science China
Jan Müller Sociology University of Zurich Switzerland
Sussie Mutahi Law Strathmore University Kenya
Eveline Limba Ngwane Psychology Near East University. North Cyprus Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Nchunka josiane Ngwemetah Political science University of Bamenda Cameroon
Annie Owusua Nkulenu Organizational Psychology University of Ghana, Legon Ghana
Moskalenko Oksana Sociology Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Ukraine
Mikaila Ortynsky Organizational Behaviour University of Ottawa Canada
So Yun Park Sociology University of Wisconsin – Madison United States
Elena Pojman Sociology and Demography The Pennsylvania State University United States
Vincent Ramos Sociology/Demography Hertie School Berlin Germany
Justine Blaise Richards Industrial and Organizational Psychology Université du Québec à Montréal Canada
Lauren Ryan Sociology and Gender Studies University of Melbourne Australia
Antje Schwarz Sociology Bielefeld University, Germany Germany
Kenya Thompson Political Science York University Canada
Grazielle Valentim Sociology University of Massachusetts Amherst United States
Megan Wisniewski Demography University of Pennsylvania United States
Elizabeth Wong Social Policy Brandeis University USA
Shiyu Yuan Social Policy University of Kent United Kingdom

WIFI

WIFI is available to all conference delegates.  To access WIFI you will need to self-register to the Concordia University wireless network via these instructions:

https://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/concordia/docs/IITS/concordia-wireless-network/ConcordiaGuest.pdf

Use the network: ConcordiaGuest

Use the access code (case sensitive) : WAC-wfrn24

Childcare

Childcare is available on Thursday and Friday 8am-5pm to those who have pre-registered for these services.  The childcare room is located at MB9D.

Breastfeeding and Private Space

We have reserved a private space for breastfeeding and for those in need of privacy to attend to other personal concerns.  This is located in room MB 2.426.  Kindly be considerate of others by knocking on the door.  Please do not use this space not for other purposes (such as for office work).

The WFRN is pleased to provide free childcare to our conference participants.  Childcare will be available from 8am to 5pm on Thursday June 20 and Friday June 21, 2024 on-site at Concordia University in room MB 2.255.  Childcare will be provided by Kidtabulous, and include games and fun activities.  Children must be between the ages of 2 and 10 years old.  The care provider limits capacity to 10 children total and no more than 5 children below the age of 5.

Currently all available spaces have been requested by conference participants.  If you would like to be placed on a wait list, please contact the Executive Office at info@wfrn.org with the subject line “Childcare Request”.

For children enrolled in the childcare program, care will be available on Thursday and Friday 8am-5pm in room MB 9-D.

Following the WFRN 2024 Biennial Conference, presenters are encouraged to submit papers for consideration to a special issue of the journal Community, Work & Family, which will be edited by Ellen Galinsky, Tammy Allen and Krista Lynn Minnotte.  The theme of the special issue will be Big Questions in Work-Family and submissions should be crafted to fit that thematic purpose.  Below is the timeframe for the special issue:

  • Deadline for submission of manuscripts: October 15. 2024
  • First review process completed: January 31, 2025
  • Revised manuscripts must be resubmitted by:  April 1, 2025
  • Second review process completed: July 1, 2025
  • Revised manuscripts must be resubmitted by: October 1, 2025
  • Publication of special issue: January 1, 2026 issue 1

Submission procedures will be posted after the 2024 conference.

Things to See & Do in Montreal – by Christine Bataille, Tracy Hecht and John Vongas.

There is so much to see and do in Montreal – take it from us! Christine lived in Montreal while pursuing her PhD at McGill University, Tracy is an Associate Professor of Management at Concordia University who hails from Montreal, and John is a native Montrealer who moved to the States to join the faculty of Ithaca College after completing his PhD at Concordia. There is SO much to see and do in Montreal that it can be overwhelming, especially if you are only in town for a few days. So, to help you make the most of your visit, we created a list of our favorite things to see and do (and eat!) in Montreal. We hope you will have the time to explore this amazing city during your time at WFRN 2024!

Near Concordia University/Downtown Montreal:

If you are looking for an upscale shopping/dining experience, you will want to visit Eaton Center https://www.centreeatondemontreal.com/time-out-market/

If you decide to venture out a bit, you will absolutely want to spend some time in Le Vieux Port/Old Montreal. You will feel as though you have stepped into an old European port town; there are tons of fun things to do and lots of delectable treats to enjoy for the whole family! https://www.oldportofmontreal.com/

We recommend:

Other places we recommend:

 

The WFRN welcomes members of the media to the 2024 conference.  If you are a journalist who covers work, family and work-family and would like to attend the event, please contact the Executive Office at info@wfrn.org.

The WFRN recognizes the Well Woman Show as a 2024 sponsor.

In the forthcoming months, The Well Woman Show interview distinguished WFRN conference delegates.  To hear these interviews, please follow this link https://www.npr.org/podcasts/610545556/the-well-woman-show.

The WFRN Thanks 2024 Program Committee Members

Hugh Bainbridge
Rupashree Baral
Alexandra Beauregard
Erin Cech
Xi Wen Chan
Vanessa Conzon
Allison Daminger
Jennifer Faone
Peter Fugiel
Marc Grau Grau
Yang Hu
Karen Kramer
Katherina Kuschel
Jean-Charles Languilaire
Prudence Mabaso
Ariane Ollier-Malaterre
Abigail Opoku Mensah
Kitha Mokomane
Berkay Ozcan
Gabrielle Pepin
Pascale Peters
Rachel Pettigrew
Alejandra Ros Pilarz
Jeremy Reynolds
Casey Scheibling
Claudia Sellmaier
Nora Spinks
Bianca Stumbitz
Marisa Young

Early Career Fund

  • Sarah Damaske
  • Andrea Doucet
  • Kathleen Gerson
  • Marc Grau-Grau
  • Edward Hill
  • Lena Hipp
  • Jennifer Hook
  • Susan Lambert
  • Donna S Lero
  • Yvonne Lott
  • Melissa Milkie
  • Krista Lynn Minnotte
  • Kelly Musick
  • Ipshita Pal
  • Sarah Patterson
  • Shirley Porterfield
  • Linda Quirke
  • Margaret Shackell
  • Sabrina L. Speights
  • Stephen Sweet
  • Soo Min TOH
  • Doruk Uysal Irak
  • Tanja van der Lippe
  • Mara Yerkes
  • Marisa Young

Awards Fund

  • Sarah Damaske
  • Kathleen Gerson
  • Marc Grau-Grau
  • Edward Hill
  • Lena Hipp
  • Jennifer Hook
  • Susan Lambert
  • Donna S Lero
  • Yvonne Lott
  • Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth
  • Melissa Milkie
  • Krista Lynn Minnotte
  • Kelly Musick
  • Ipshita Pal
  • Sarah Patterson
  • Shirley Porterfield
  • Susan Prentice
  • Linda Quirke
  • Liana Sayer
  • Margaret Shackell
  • Sabrina L. Speights
  • Stephen Sweet
  • Soo Min TOH
  • Doruk Uysal Irak
  • Tanja van der Lippe
  • Amy Wharton
  • Mara Yerkes
  • Marisa Young

Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research Fund

  • Kathleen Gerson
  • Jennifer Hook
  • Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth
  • Kelly Musick
  • Susan Prentice
  • Linda Quirke
  • Liana Sayer
  • Stephen Sweet
  • Amy Wharton

BIPOC and Diversity Inclusion Funds

  • Kess Ballentine
  • Anna Borg
  • Eileen M Brennan
  • Daniel L Carlson
  • Erin A. Cech
  • Kelly D. Chandler
  • Heather Cluley Bar-Or
  • Sydney Rose Colussi
  • Sarah Damaske
  • Kim de Laat
  • Laura den Dulk
  • Sara Dorow
  • Alison Earle
  • Elizabeth Helen Eley
  • Sylvia Fuller
  • Kathleen Gerson
  • Rebecca Glauber
  • Jill Hanley
  • Belinda Hewitt
  • Andrea Hjálmsdóttir
  • Jennifer Hook
  • Sandra Idrovo
  • Marla H. Kohlman
  • Susan Lambert
  • Beth Livingston
  • Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth
  • Melissa Milkie
  • Krista Lynn Minnotte
  • Kelly Musick
  • Sarah Patterson
  • Maureen Perry-Jenkins
  • Rachael N. Pettigrew
  • Birgit Pfau-Effinger
  • Shirley Porterfield
  • Susan Prentice
  • Linda Quirke
  • Margaret A. Shaffer
  • Sabrina L. Speights
  • Nora Spinks
  • Stephen Sweet
  • Tanja van der Lippe
  • Aida Villanueva
  • Amy Wharton
  • Mara Yerkes

2024 Conference Food Funds

  • Hugh Bainbridge
  • Kess Ballentine
  • Galina Boiarintseva
  • Anna Borg
  • Sarah Brauner-Otto
  • Kathryn Louise Brett
  • Heejung Chung
  • Charles Coleman
  • Sarah Damaske
  • Laura den Dulk
  • Christina Madchen Dreger-Smylie
  • Alison Earle
  • Sue Epstein
  • Daniel Erler
  • Janet Fast
  • Zachary Finn
  • Kimberly French
  • Martha Friendly
  • Peter J. Fugiel
  • Sylvia Fuller
  • Ellen Galinsky
  • Julia Goodman
  • Danna Greenberg
  • Angela Grotto
  • Leslie Hammer
  • Jill Hanley
  • Mojoko Clara Hemeko
  • Belinda Hewitt
  • Andrea Hjálmsdóttir
  • Jessica Hobbs
  • Heather Hofmeister
  • Jennifer Hook
  • John Hopkins
  • Eva Jaspers
  • Renge Jibu
  • Elise Bair Jones
  • Elise Jones
  • Hak Yoon Kim
  • Patrizia Kokot-Blamey
  • Steve Kovacic
  • Susan Lambert
  • Jean-Charles Emile Languilaire
  • Marianne Lapointe
  • Beth Livingston
  • David W.L. Ma
  • Bongekile P Mabaso
  • Andrew Nikko Magnaye
  • Maria I. Marshall
  • Krista Lynn Minnotte
  • Kaumudi Misra
  • Wendy Nilsen
  • Jessica Pac
  • Ipshita Pal
  • Birgit Pfau-Effinger
  • Christine Pfeiffer
  • Alejandra Pilarz
  • Shirley Porterfield
  • Agnieszka Postepska
  • Linda Quirke
  • Gudbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir
  • Alexandra Rheinhardt
  • Madeline Ellen Annie Robbenhaar
  • Maha Sabbah Karkabi
  • Katina Sawyer
  • Liana Sayer
  • Molly Schmidt
  • Margaret Shackell
  • Margaret A. Shaffer
  • Sudong Shang
  • Shweta Singh
  • Karen Elizabeth Smith
  • Lisa Stewart
  • Soo Min TOH
  • Cosmas Augustus Uhuo
  • Tanja van der Lippe
  • Ronit Waismel-Manor
  • Carolyn E Waldrep
  • Tianying Wang
  • Deborah Widiss
  • Julie Yen
  • Mara Yerkes

General Funds

  • Hugh Bainbridge
  • Kathryn Louise Brett
  • Chuck N Darrah
  • Claudia Geist
  • Kathleen Gerson
  • Jeffrey H. Greenhaus
  • Margo Hilbrecht
  • Susan Lambert
  • Susan Prentice
  • Maximiliane Reifenscheid
  • Liana Sayer
  • Stephen Sweet
  • Tanja van der Lippe
  • Julia Yang

WFRN Global South Travel Award

To maximize geographic diversity within the Global South, the WFRN Global South Travel Award is intended to help scholars from economically-disadvantaged locales secure financial support to attend the WFRN’s biennial conference.  Awards include a regular membership ($215) and conference registration ($359), as well as reimbursement of $500 for travel expenses incurred (which can include hotels, food, flights, ground transportation, and visa fees).

Selection of award recipients will be based upon applicant’s alignment of research program with work-family scholarship (with the goal of building lifelong members in WFRN) and individual financial need.

Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Has an active scholarly program that focuses on work-family concerns
  • Has submitted a session, paper, poster or roundtable to the biennial conference
  • Resides and works in an economically disadvantaged country
  • Demonstrates financial need that would inhibit conference attendance

Awards recipients will be selected on the basis of

  • Need
  • Demonstrated commitment to work-family scholarship
  • Maximizing geographic diversity with support to scholars from the Global South

Conference registration and membership fees will be funded or refunded prior to the conference. Travel expenses will be reimbursed after the conference by submitting receipts and verification of attendance to the WFRN Executive Office.

Through the generous donations of members and sponsors, the WFRN anticipates awarding 4 or more travel awards in 2024.  Application deadline is January 15, 2024 and award recipients will be notified by February 15, 2024.  Award recipients are selected by the WFRN’s International Committee.

The application deadline for the Global South Travel Award has past.  Recipients will be notified proximate to February 15, 2024. 

WFRN Registration and Membership Support Awards

The generous donations donors and sponsors make possible over $12,000 of support assistance for scholars-in-need to attend the WFRN’s 2024 conference.  The deadline for applications for these awards has now passed.  Recipients will be notified proximate to February 15, 2024.

Notification Schedule

Original Submission Deadline November 1, 2023

Extended Submission Deadline November 15, 2023

Submission Acceptance Notifications January 26, 2024

Preliminary Program Disseminated March 15, 2024

Final Program Disseminated April 15, 2024

Guidelines for Multiple Submissions

With the exception of invited presentations, presenters are limited to a maximum of one lead or sole author submission. Invited presenters can submit an additional lead or sole author submission. There is no limit to submissions in which presenters are listed as a secondary authors, so long as lead authors intend to register and attend the 2024 conference.

The WFRN has received many inquiries on whether the 2024 conference will be hybrid.  Cost and logistical concerns prevent hybrid presentations or remote attendance in 2024.  The WFRN is committed to disseminating work-family research to the global community through its Virtual Conference Series events.  We will continue to explore options for hybrid elements for future biennial conferences.

Refund Policy

In the event that a 2024 registrant is unable to travel to Canada, a conference registration/membership refund can be issued by contacting the WFRN at info@wfrn.org by June 18, 2024.  No refunds will be issued after that date.

The WFRN expresses gratitude to 2025-2026 our partners and sponsors.

Benefactors

Patrons

Promoters

Friends and Organization Partners

Ellen Galinsky