This study explores the relationship between sustainability, social state, and social policies from the perspective of work-life balance, framing it within historical evolution and contemporary transformations. It emphasizes the restructuring of social state implementations from industrial to digital economies, prioritizing economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The social policy is examined beyond its protective role against social risks, as a vital area supporting long-term social welfare and sustainable development. The analysis includes flexible employment models, active-passive labor market policies, technological advancements, and the impact of digitalization on social policy. Additionally, issues such as social exclusion, dynamics of work stress, effects of digitalization on labor markets with precarization, the concept of nanny state with a Turkey case study, and the functionality of social protection regimes against economic crisis and inflation are comprehensively discussed. The psychosocial risks emerging from remote work and digital labor regime affecting employee mental and physical health are highlighted, alongside the insufficiency of traditional social policy and occupational health laws. Occupational health and safety risks in health and social services sectors and the corresponding individual and institutional precautions are evaluated. Poverty alleviation through microfinance supports and income-generating project programs are presented with case findings in Kahramanmaraş. The historical evolution of women and gender policies in Turkey’s development plans is analyzed, showing a shift from traditional familial approaches to limited and instrumental economic participation and empowerment. Furthermore, the study analyzes strike postponement practices in Turkey from 2000 to 2025, exposing their sectoral distribution, legal, and social outcomes, indicating their concentration in industrial sectors based on national security grounds and the effective limitation of substantive strike rights.