Corporate Demographic Policy in the Perception of Employees at Manufacturing Enterprises

Introduction. Amid the demographic crisis and personnel shortage in Russian regions, the issue of engaging businesses in supporting employees with family responsibilities is becoming increasingly relevant. The institutionalization of corporate demographic policy is at an active stage, but its actual implementation remains poorly studied from the employees’ perspective. The aim of the study is to identify the established formal and informal corporate practices for supporting employees at manufacturing enterprises and to characterize the perception of the employer’s role as a subject of demographic policy.

Materials and Methods. The empirical basis consists of in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted from April to June 2025 with workers of large industrial, agricultural, and construction enterprises of the Republic of Mordovia. The sample (n = 18) included 7 women and 11 men – representatives of blue-collar jobs and line management. Sampling was carried out using the snowball method; interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic coding.

Results. The established formal practices include one-off payments at childbirth, partial compensation for kindergarten fees and summer camp vouchers, holiday gifts for children, and additional paid days off for family events. At the informal level, a practice of resolving work-family balance issues through arrangements with immediate supervisors has emerged, indicating a primary adaptation of production to the family needs of employees. Family support is part of the corporate culture; however, the employer’s role as a subject of demographic policy isperceived as secondary.

Conclusion. The institutionalization of corporate demographic policy is manifested in a variety of formal and informal support measures for employees, but it remains incomplete. This is evidenced by insuffi cient employee awareness of available benefi ts and the perception of the employer as a secondary actor in demographic policy. The results of the study can be used to improve social programs in the industrial sector and to develop social partnership projects.