Dads need flexible work

Almost a third of fathers lack access to flexible work arrangements says a recent academic study. 


The researchers, from the UCL Institute of Education, the University of East Anglia and the National Centre for Social Research found that almost a third (30%) of employed fathers surveyed could not work part time, have flexible employment hours or work in a job share. In comparison, 10% of women do not have access to some form of flexible working.


The researchers examined data on 3,965 mothers and 4,211 fathers who were in employment and had children aged 16 or younger. 


They found that over two-fifths (42%) of fathers and three-quarters (78%) of mothers had the opportunity to work part-time. But only a fifth (19%) of fathers had the opportunity to work in a job share compared to 31% of mothers. 


Meanwhile, 13% of fathers and 28% of mothers could work during term-time only.


Similar proportions of fathers and mothers could work in a flexi-time arrangement (38% and 37% respectively). And the ability to work from home was enjoyed by 23% of fathers and 19% of mothers.


The researchers told the British Sociological Association’s annual conference last month that it is fathers in lower status occupations, in the private sector, and in non-unionised workplaces that had less access to flexible working, compared to fathers in professional and managerial occupations, the public sector, and unionised workplaces.

www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news-events/news-pub/april-2018/fathers-lack-access-flexible-work-arrangements