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Fathers’ Perceptions of the Availability of Flexible Working Arrangements: Evidence from the UK

Author

Listed:
  • Rose Cook

    (King’s College London, UK)

  • Margaret O’Brien

    (UCL Institute of Education, UK)

  • Sara Connolly

    (University of East Anglia, UK)

  • Matthew Aldrich

    (University of East Anglia, UK)

  • Svetlana Speight

    (NatCen, UK)

Abstract

A conditional right to request flexible working arrangements (FWAs) has existed for most UK employee parents since 2003. However, there are growing concerns about access, particularly among fathers. Using nationally representative data from the 2015 UK Household Longitudinal Survey, this article examines fathers’ perceptions of the availability of hours reduction, schedule flexibility and working from home. Results show that almost one-third of fathers believe that FWAs that reduce working hours are unavailable to them, compared with one-tenth of mothers. There are no gender differences in perceptions of availability of schedule and location flexibility. Among fathers, those with lower education levels, in lower status occupations, working in the private sector and in workplaces that do not have trade union presence are more likely to believe that FWAs are unavailable. Therefore, even though most employees now have the right to request FWAs, a significant minority of fathers do not perceive FWAs to be available to them.

Suggested Citation

  • Rose Cook & Margaret O’Brien & Sara Connolly & Matthew Aldrich & Svetlana Speight, 2021. "Fathers’ Perceptions of the Availability of Flexible Working Arrangements: Evidence from the UK," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 35(6), pages 1014-1033, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:35:y:2021:i:6:p:1014-1033
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017020946687
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Matysiak & Agnieszka Kasperska & Ewa Cukrowska-Torzewska, 2025. "Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Work from Home on Careers in the Post-Covid Context," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 39(5), pages 1103-1126, October.
    2. Krystal Wilkinson & Clare Mumford & Michael Carroll, 2023. "Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Work, Employment and Society: Extending the Debate on Organisational Involvement in/Responsibilities around Fertility and Reproduction," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 37(5), pages 1419-1433, October.
    3. Laura Jones & Rose Cook & Sara Connolly, 2023. "Parenthood and Job Quality: Is There a Motherhood Penalty in the UK?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 170(2), pages 765-792, November.

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