Fathers’ rights research

New research will examine the barriers preventing working fathers from accessing their family friendly rights.

The Working Families campaign and Lancaster University Management School will undertake a two-year study of the working lives of UK fathers, designed to boost awareness of work-life balance options among working dads, particularly those on low incomes.

The project estimates that around 8,500 UK fathers will benefit from the study through learning more about employment rights such as flexible working and paternity leave, and how to engage more with their children.

Working Families chief executive Sarah Jackson said that fathers are less likely than mothers to request flexible hours and, when they do so, are more likely to have these requests refused.