Dr Bianca Stumbitz

My key research interests include diversity and inclusion in theworkplace, with an emphasis on gender and work-family related issues, as wellas working conditions more broadly. I have specialist knowledge on the subjectof maternity and paternity workplace policies and practices across the world,and have recently undertaken related research in Ghana, South Africa andMalaysia. I am currently Principal Investigator on a three-year ESRC-fundedstudy on the Transition to Parenthood in UK SMEs, in collaboration with WorkingFamilies and the Fatherhood Institute. In another current study I am exploringawareness of menopause symptoms and workplace support in the higher educationcontext. A further key stream of my work is related to socialenterprise. Recent projects include studies on the role of communitybusinesses in providing health and wellbeing services and ‘good work’, and onalternative social enterprise models for delivering health and social carepublic services. Funders of my work have included the International LabourOrganization, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the EuropeanCommission. As part of my work, I have been advising multiple stakeholders,including employers, trade unions, government departments, internationalorganizations and NGOs. I co-lead the Middlesex University Gender &Diversity Research Cluster, the International Committee of the US-based Workand Family Researchers Network, and I am a member of the Maternity ProtectionCommittee of the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens,Women and Youth.