UK Wedding News
16/01/2017
The 2017 Modern Families Index, which has been published by charity Working Families and Bright Horizons, found that fathers want to take an active role in childcare, but workplaces are failing to adapt and support their plans.
Of the fathers who took part in the study, 26% said that they collect their children from school or nursery more than half of the time, while a quarter drop their children off at school or nursery every day.
Seven in 10 dads work flexibly to achieve their family responsibilities, but half of men admitted that their work-life balance is becoming more stressful. A third said they regularly feel 'burnt out', while one in five work extra hours in the evening or weekends all the time.
Having to work extra hours was said to be the only way fathers can cope with their workload, while working long hours is viewed as important in their workplace.
Elsewhere in the workplace, one fifth of fathers said that their employer is 'unsympathetic' about childcare, expecting no disruption to work. Others admitted that they would not tell their employer if they were experiencing childcare problems because of a fear of being viewed negatively.
Some 44% of fathers went as far as to say they had lied to their employer regarding family-related responsibilities that 'get in the way' of work.
However, seven in 10 said that they would consider their childcare needs before taking a new job or a promotion. 47% of working fathers want to move into a less stressful job because they are not able to balance the demands of work and family life, while 38% said they would be willing to take a pay cut to achieve a better work-life balance.
As a result, the study suggests that this risks creating a "fatherhood penalty", where fathers compromise career-wise, following a career that is below their skill set and reducing their earnings.
Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families, said: "To prevent a 'fatherhood penalty' emerging in the UK – and to help tackle the motherhood penalty – employers need to ensure that work is designed in a way that helps women and men find a good work-life fit.
"Making roles flexible by default and a healthy dose of realism when it comes to what can be done in the hours available are absolutely vital.
"A game-changing first step would be government creating a new, properly paid, extended period of paternity leave – sending clear signal that government recognises the aspirations of modern fathers and is serious about tackling the motherhood penalty that blights the working lives of so many women."
Denise Priest, Director of Employer Partnerships at Bright Horizons, added: "It's clear that the reconciliation of work and family life is now a priority for both mothers and fathers.
"It is impossible to overstate the positive impact of an understanding and supportive employer – one that adapts to its employees' needs so that they can progress in their careers. Leading employers are those that protect their employees from parental penalties and provide optimum work and care arrangements."
(JP/LM)
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Fathers 'Struggling With A Work-Life Balance'
A new report has said that the UK is at risk of creating a "fatherhood penalty", as fathers are finding it more difficult to achieve a work-life balance.The 2017 Modern Families Index, which has been published by charity Working Families and Bright Horizons, found that fathers want to take an active role in childcare, but workplaces are failing to adapt and support their plans.
Of the fathers who took part in the study, 26% said that they collect their children from school or nursery more than half of the time, while a quarter drop their children off at school or nursery every day.
Seven in 10 dads work flexibly to achieve their family responsibilities, but half of men admitted that their work-life balance is becoming more stressful. A third said they regularly feel 'burnt out', while one in five work extra hours in the evening or weekends all the time.
Having to work extra hours was said to be the only way fathers can cope with their workload, while working long hours is viewed as important in their workplace.
Elsewhere in the workplace, one fifth of fathers said that their employer is 'unsympathetic' about childcare, expecting no disruption to work. Others admitted that they would not tell their employer if they were experiencing childcare problems because of a fear of being viewed negatively.
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Some 44% of fathers went as far as to say they had lied to their employer regarding family-related responsibilities that 'get in the way' of work.
However, seven in 10 said that they would consider their childcare needs before taking a new job or a promotion. 47% of working fathers want to move into a less stressful job because they are not able to balance the demands of work and family life, while 38% said they would be willing to take a pay cut to achieve a better work-life balance.
As a result, the study suggests that this risks creating a "fatherhood penalty", where fathers compromise career-wise, following a career that is below their skill set and reducing their earnings.
Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families, said: "To prevent a 'fatherhood penalty' emerging in the UK – and to help tackle the motherhood penalty – employers need to ensure that work is designed in a way that helps women and men find a good work-life fit.
"Making roles flexible by default and a healthy dose of realism when it comes to what can be done in the hours available are absolutely vital.
"A game-changing first step would be government creating a new, properly paid, extended period of paternity leave – sending clear signal that government recognises the aspirations of modern fathers and is serious about tackling the motherhood penalty that blights the working lives of so many women."
Denise Priest, Director of Employer Partnerships at Bright Horizons, added: "It's clear that the reconciliation of work and family life is now a priority for both mothers and fathers.
"It is impossible to overstate the positive impact of an understanding and supportive employer – one that adapts to its employees' needs so that they can progress in their careers. Leading employers are those that protect their employees from parental penalties and provide optimum work and care arrangements."
(JP/LM)
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