Flexible working easing stress for fathers
Employment Law & HR update - 26/05/2011
Fathers who work flexibly in the private sector are less
stressed and enjoy better health, according to new research.
The report, produced by Working Families and Lancaster
University Management School, found that men who fell into this
category were also more committed to their employer.
Meanwhile, fathers who were working flexibly in the public
sector were found to be less likely to enjoy high levels of
commitment to their employer, or a sense of wellbeing, despite
reporting that they were less troubled by their work-life
balance.
The lower stress levels have been attributed in part to the high
levels of job insecurity currently raging within the public
sector.
Lead researcher from Lancaster University, Dr Caroline Gatrell,
said, “Our results show that flexible working makes a positive
difference to the lives of working fathers, which benefits both
fathers and employers.
“Fathers who work flexibly have better health, better
relationships with colleagues and feel more in control of their
work–life balance, especially if they are on low incomes,” she
added.
However, Ms Gatrell went on to say that flexible working cannot
entirely cancel out all stresses, and that it was key for managers
to be 'supportive of the flexible working policies on offer, making
sure that fathers can access these in practice, as well as in
theory.'