Women take ‘financial hit’ for flexible work

Women are taking a pay hit because they are much more likely than men to do flexible work that leads to fewer hours, according to TUC analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

While some forms of flexible work, such as home working and compressed hours, allow employees to work full-time, women in flexible work are more likely to be part-time or term-time only workers due to the unequal division of caring responsibilities, the TUC says.

More than one in three (35.7%) women in flexible work are part-time, compared to one in nine (11.5%) men, while one in 13 (7.9%) women work term-time only, compared to one in 50 (1.8%) men.

Figures from the ONS show that a part-time woman worker earns on average £5.40 an hour less than a full-time male one – a 33% pay gap – and part-time workers have fewer career and pay progression opportunities.

By contrast, men in flexible work are more likely to work from home, even in sectors dominated by women employees, such as arts and recreation, and accommodation and food.

The TUC says part-time jobs need to offer equivalent pay and career conditions, and has called on the government to strengthen flexible working rights so women have equal access to work arrangements that do not hit their salaries.