Flexible Use of the Father’s Quota: Problems and Possibilities

Author(s):  
Berit Brandth ◽  
Elin Kvande

Research on work-family balance has seen flexible work arrangements as a key solution for reconciling work and family, but it has given contradictory results regarding fathers. This chapter focuses on flexible parental leave use for fathers in Norway. It is based on interviews with 20 fathers who have used the father’s quota flexibly either as part-time combined with part-time leave or as piecemeal leave. The study describes the motives for using flexible leave and the consequences of the two types of flexibility for fathers’ caregiving. Flexibility provides them with a menu of choices, which affects their caregiving differently. Findings show that part-time leave allows work to invade care, produces a double stress and promotes halfway fathering. It tends to confirm fathers as secondary caregivers instead of empowering them as primary caregivers.

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Pasewark ◽  
Ralph E. Viator

Turnover of experienced and well-trained professionals continues to be a problem for accounting firms. Much of the turnover is among individuals who are trying to satisfy demands of both work and family. This study examines the sources of work-family conflict and their association with job outcomes in the accounting profession. One source of work-family conflict, work interfering with the family (WIF), is found to significantly relate to job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Females are much more likely than males to experience turnover intentions when their work interferes with their family. Another source, family interfering with work (FIW), is not significantly related to either job satisfaction or to turnover intentions when flexible work arrangements are offered, but is related to turnover intentions when flexible work arrangements are not offered. As currently offered, flexible work arrangements seem to be effective at reducing turnover related to FIW.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodyanne Kirkwood ◽  
Beth Tootell

AbstractMany people (particularly women) see entrepreneurship as a way of achieving a better balance between work and family than that provided by paid employment. Fifty-eight entrepreneurs were interviewed in New Zealand (32 women and 26 men) in order to explore the work-family conflict they face, the techniques they use to achieve work–family balance and the effectiveness of these strategies. Our study finds that women entrepreneurs employ a number of flexible work practices, such as choosing where to work, when to work and with whom to work as well as managing their roles within the family. This study concludes that entrepreneurship may not be a panacea for achieving work–family balance. We offer some suggestions for how entrepreneurs may better achieve work–family balance.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Lingard ◽  
Jasmine Lin

A survey of women in the Australian construction industrywas undertaken to examine women's work experiencesin construction. Questionnaires were distributed to threehundred women in construction occupations and 109completed and usable questionnaires were returned.Women were found to be seriously under-represented insite-based roles. Site/project engineers worked longer hoursthan other occupational groups and expressed significantlygreater work-family conflict. Lack of flexibility and theinability to balance work and family were common themesin the qualitative comments made by many respondents.Even when women indicated that part time work options andmaternity entitlements were provided by their organizations,many expressed a reluctance to use them and perceivedcareer penalty associated with this usage. It is concludedthat more flexible work schedules and the implementationof family-friendly policies may encourage more women intosite-based roles in construction. The paper concludes thatthe rigid work practices presently in place act as a subtleform of discrimination. The provision of such policies willonly be effective if cultural and attitudinal change is alsoachieved.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodyanne Kirkwood ◽  
Beth Tootell

AbstractMany people (particularly women) see entrepreneurship as a way of achieving a better balance between work and family than that provided by paid employment. Fifty-eight entrepreneurs were interviewed in New Zealand (32 women and 26 men) in order to explore the work-family conflict they face, the techniques they use to achieve work–family balance and the effectiveness of these strategies. Our study finds that women entrepreneurs employ a number of flexible work practices, such as choosing where to work, when to work and with whom to work as well as managing their roles within the family. This study concludes that entrepreneurship may not be a panacea for achieving work–family balance. We offer some suggestions for how entrepreneurs may better achieve work–family balance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 886-900
Author(s):  
O. A. Zolotina ◽  
M. A. Serpukhova

Aim. The presented study aims to determine the key employment parameters that allow bachelor’s and master’s degree students to combine work with professional education in the optimal way and help people enrolled on further professional education to maintain a balance between work and family functions.Tasks. The authors analyze surveys of bachelor’s and master’s degree undergraduates and graduates of continuing professional education (CPE) programs of the Faculty of Economics of Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU).Methods. This study uses general logical methods: dialectical, logical, comparative, and systems analysis; methods of sociological research, including public surveys.Results. The authors identify major employment characteristics that help working students maintain high academic performance and positively affect the work-family balance of older people receiving further professional education.Conclusions. Increased flexibility of the labor market in the form of more part-time job offers could make a significant contribution to maintaining and improving the quality of training of students who combine work and studies, which is especially relevant for bachelor’s degree students. Diversifying the available forms of employment can positively affect the decision to gain intitial professional experience while studying at the university. Due to the development of remote employment, the forms of occupation available to students need to be further studied in detail.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7339
Author(s):  
Vânia Sofia Carvalho ◽  
Alda Santos ◽  
Maria Teresa Ribeiro ◽  
Maria José Chambel

The lockdown, in the COVID-19 pandemic, is considered an external crisis that evokes innumerous changes in individuals lives. One of the changes is the work and family dynamics. Based on boundary theory we examine the mediated role of work and family balance and boundary segmentation behavior in the relationship between boundary violations and teleworkers’ stress and well-being. However, because women and men live their work and family differently, gender may condition the way teleworkers lead with boundary violations and boundary segmentation. Hypotheses were tested through moderated mediation modeling using data collected of 456 teleworkers during lockdown. In line with our expectations, teleworkers who have suffered most boundary violations were those with least boundary segmentation behaviors and with least work-family balance which, in turn was related to higher burnout and lower flourishing. Furthermore, gender was found to moderate the relationship between boundary violations from work-to-family and segmentation behavior in the same direction and this relationship was stronger for females than for males. We discuss implications for future research and for managing teleworkers, creating sustainability, both during a crise and stable days.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Beham ◽  
Patrick Präg ◽  
Sonja Drobnič

Working part-time is frequently considered a viable strategy for employees to better combine work and non-work responsibilities. The present study examines differences in satisfaction with work-family balance (SWFB) among professional and non-professional part-time service sector employees in five western European countries. Part-time employees were found to be more SWFB than full-time employees even after taking varying demands and resources into account. However, there are important differences among the part-timers. Employees in marginal part-time employment with considerably reduced working hours were the most satisfied. Professionals were found to profit less from reduced working hours and experienced lower levels of SWFB than non-professionals. No significant differences in SWFB were found between male and female part-time workers.


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