WORK-LIFE BALANCE
British men fear requesting flexible working will damage their careers
Many British fathers are working long hours, struggling to balance work and family and fear that requesting flexible working will damage their careers, a new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission has found.
The report, launched today to coincide with Parents’ Week, finds that 45% of men fail to take two weeks’ paternity leave after the birth of their child with the most common reason provided being because they can’t afford to. Two in five men fear that asking for flexible working arrangements would result in their commitment to their job being questioned and would negatively affect their chances of a promotion.
The report also points to an opportunity for employers to gain a competitive advantage in recruitment, as two in three fathers consider the availability of flexible working to be important when looking for a new job.
%ADVERT%
Current and proposed government paternity leave arrangements include:
Two weeks’ statutory paternity leave paid at a flat rate of up £123.06 a week
A proposal that by 2011 fathers will be able to take another six months’ paternity – three months at the statutory rate of pay and three months’ unpaid – as long as the mother gives up six months of maternity leave.
A final word
“Two-thirds of fathers see flexible working as an important benefit when looking for a new job. This highlights an opportunity for British businesses to use flexible working as an incentive for attracting and retaining the most talented of employees. Some companies which have adopted forward thinking policies towards families are reporting increased productivity, reduction in staff turnover, reduced training costs and an ability to respond better to customer requirements.” - Andrea Murray, Acting Group Director Strategy, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Want to know more?
Title: Working Better: Fathers, family and work, The Equality and Human Rights Commission, October 2009.
Availability: To download the report, free of charge, visit the EHRC web site.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission. To find out more visit www.equalityhumanrights.com.