scholarly journals Flexible working for all? How collective constructions by Austrian employers and employees perpetuate gendered inequalities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva-Maria Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Family Work ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Strongly Connected ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Reconstructive Analysis

Objective: This paper pursues the question as to how extended flexible working possibilities in the labor market are legitimized among employers and employees and whether they have potential to mitigate inequalities. Background: Persistent and increasing gendered inequalities in Austria are reflected in the unequal division of unpaid family work in parental couples and in men’s stable full-time employment while women increasingly work part-time. In recent years, employers have expanded flexible working possibilities for all employees, regardless of their gender, also in leading positions and especially for those with family responsibilities. Method: We conducted six focus groups and 16 semi-structured interviews with employers (n=30) and employees (n=25) from 29 contrasting companies across Austria. An in-depth reconstructive analysis facilitated our exploration of collective notions and concepts associated with flexible work and career opportunities. Results: The respondents constructed part-time and flexible work as a new norm strongly connected to women with (potential) children. At the same time, employers and employees legitimized that these women must be protected from penalties resulting from the ideal worker norm still in force and must be variously supported by employers. However, men – the partners of women they could support by making use of these options and taking over childcare – are not constructed as a target group. Conclusion: In a cultural context such as Austria, family-friendly flexible working opportunities perpetuate rather than level gendered inequalities, as men’s need for those opportunities do not emerge in the constructions. The lack thereof is neither explicitly addressed nor challenged.

Flexibility trap – the effects of flexible working on the position of female professionals and managers within a corporate environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Formánková ◽  
Alena Křížková
Keyword(s):  
Full Time ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Corporate Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Managerial Positions ◽  
Female Professionals

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyse the experience of female part-time professionals with employee and managerial positions with the utilisation of flexible work arrangements in a corporate environment in the country with a full-time dominated work culture. The data represent a rare case study of the work environment in a Czech branch of one multinational company. This paper focusses on the position of female employees working part-time in professional and managerial positions. The reason for such an arrangement is their attempt to combine career and care for pre-school children. This paper evaluates the effects of flexible work policies in an environment where part-time work for female professionals is rarely available and, therefore, precious. In particular, this paper discusses conditions under which these arrangements are available and its impact on gender equality. Design/methodology/approach – The paper represents a rare case-study of an organisational environment. The seven analysed interviews derive from a larger study on the corporate environment which included 35 interviews and a series of participatory observations. In the analysis, the following questions are discussed: What is the position of employees working within flexible working arrangements in a specific corporate culture? Which aspects of flexible working arrangements affect the professional recognition and evaluation of the employees? To what extent and how do flexible working arrangements affect employee satisfaction with their working and private lives? Findings – The data reveal the diverse and often subtle forms of discrimination and exploitation of working mothers, who use the flexible working arrangement as a work-family reconciliation strategy. Female employees working with alternative working arrangements do not have equal bargaining power in comparison to other employees, regardless of whether they are professionals, and sometimes in managerial positions. At the formal level, the part-time professionals are restricted in pay and in access to the company benefits. In the informal relations within the workplace, their work lacks of sufficient recognition of colleagues and superiors. Overall, part-time work for female professionals and managers leads to an entrapment between the needs of their family and the expectations of their employer. Practical implications – The research reveals the practical limitation in introducing policies the work-life reconciliation policies. The results show the need to focus on promoting better conditions for employees working part-time. Also, it shows that managerial and highly demanding professional positions can be executed on a part-time basis if the work environment is open towards accepting this arrangement. Moreover, the findings outline the possibilities of developing workplace practices in the Czech Republic in a woman-friendly direction. Social implications – Specific legislative arrangements should be enacted, providing better protection for employees in non-standard employment. At the same time, the incentives for employers to enable part-time working arrangements should be provided. Originality/value – The amount of research on female professionals working part-time or from home is rather limited in context of the post-communist countries. The paper discusses the “double” tokenism of the women working in the leadership positions and at the same time in flexible working arrangements in the full-time working culture.

Retaining Women in the Oil and Gas Industry

2008 ◽  
Vol 02 (02) ◽  
pp. 12-16
Author(s):  
Eve S. Sprunt
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time

Feature One can draw several conclusions from the results of this informal survey: Work/life balance is a huge issue for everyone. Flexible working arrangements including part-time work and telecommuting will help retain people of all ages. While childcare benefits are of interest to only a fraction of the workforce, for that fraction, they can be the deciding factor. The same types of flexible work policies and on-site daycare or childcare support that will help to retain young women will also help to retain young men. Often women are the primary breadwinners and/or healthcare benefit providers for their families and do not have the luxury of working less than full time. The key is flexibility to create a win-win situation for worker and employer.

scholarly journals Exploring producers' motivations and challenges within a farmers' market

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (7) ◽  
pp. 2089-2103
Author(s):  
Rosario Michel-Villarreal ◽  
Eliseo Luis Vilalta-Perdomo ◽  
Martin Hingley
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Short Food Supply Chains

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore food producers' motivations and challenges whilst participating in short food supply chains (SFSCs). This paper compares findings with previous literature and investigates the topic in the context of producers' motivations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes a literature review concerning producers' motivations to engage in SFSCs. A case study was designed to investigate motivations underlying producers' engagement in SFSCs, as well as the challenges that they face. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a farmers' market located in Mexico. Thematic analysis is used to identify the principal issues for producers'. Propositions based on findings are presented.FindingsFindings suggest that small, large, part-time and full-time producers are willing to engage with farmers' markets for diverse primary economic and non-economic motivations. Individual and collective challenges were also identified.Originality/valueThis research helps to explain producers' motivations and challenges within SFSCs in an under-researched context, namely a focus on producers' and in the Global South.

Models for Integrating Medical Acupuncture into Practice: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Physicians— Experiences

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 280-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen T Crumley
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Core Concept ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Core ◽  
Individual Physician ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Medical Acupuncture

Background Internationally, physicians are integrating medical acupuncture into their practice. Although there are some informative surveys and reviews, there are few international, exploratory studies detailing how physicians have accommodated medical acupuncture (eg, by modifying schedules, space and processes). Objective To examine how physicians integrate medical acupuncture into their practice. Methods Semi-structured interviews and participant observations of physicians practising medical acupuncture were conducted using convenience and snowball sampling. Data were analysed in NVivo and themes were developed. Despite variation, three principal models were developed to summarise the different ways that physicians integrated medical acupuncture into their practice, using the core concept of ‘helping’. Quotes were used to illustrate each model and its corresponding themes. Results There were 25 participants from 11 countries: 21 agreed to be interviewed and four engaged in participant observations. Seventy-two per cent were general practitioners. The three models were: (1) appointments (44%); (2) clinics (44%); and (3) full-time practice (24%). Some physicians held both appointments and regular clinics (models 1 and 2). Most full-time physicians initially tried appointments and/or clinics. Some physicians charged to offset administration costs or compensate for their time. Discussion Despite variation within each category, the three models encapsulated how physicians described their integration of medical acupuncture. Physicians varied in how often they administered medical acupuncture and the amount of time they spent with patients. Although 24% of physicians surveyed administered medical acupuncture full-time, most practised it part-time. Each individual physician incorporated medical acupuncture in the way that worked best for their practice.

scholarly journals Employee satisfaction and use of flexible working arrangements

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Wheatley
Keyword(s):  
Change Score ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Panel Survey ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Score Analysis ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Full Time Employment ◽  
The Impact

This article considers the impact of flexible working arrangements (FWAs), using the British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society, 2001–10/11. Results of panel logit, ANCOVA and change-score analysis are indicative of positive impacts from use of a number of FWAs, including homeworking having positive effects for men and women on job and leisure satisfaction. However, findings reveal gaps in availability and use of FWAs, and highlight the gendered nature of flexible employment. Flexi-time, the most common FWA among men, has positive effects as it facilitates management of household responsibilities while maintaining full-time employment. Part-time and homeworking are also positive, consistent with men using FWAs with a greater degree of choice. Women more often are constrained in their use of FWAs, often into working reduced hours. Consequently, FWAs have negative impacts for some women, on job (part-time when used for extended periods, flexi-time), leisure (job-share, flexi-time) and life satisfaction (job-share).

Key Considerations for Advancing Women in Coaching

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenessa Banwell ◽  
Gretchen Kerr ◽  
Ashley Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equity ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Business Engineering ◽  
Female Coaches

Women remain underrepresented in the coaching domain across various levels of sport both in Canada and internationally. Despite the use of mentorship as a key strategy to support female coaches, little progress has been seen in achieving parity. At the same time, greater advances in gender equity have occurred in other non-sport sectors such as business, engineering, and medicine. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to learn from non-sport domains that have seen advances in gender equity to inform mentorship for women in coaching. A mixed-methods methodology was employed and consisted of distributing mentorship surveys to female coaches (n = 310) at various competitive levels, representing current (88%), former (12%), full-time (26%), part-time (74%), paid (54%), and unpaid (46%) coaching status. In addition, eight in-depth semi-structured interviews were also conducted with women in senior-level positions across various non-sport domains, including business (n = 1), media (n = 1), engineering (n = 2), higher education (n = 1), law (n = 1), and medicine (n = 2), regarding the role of mentorship in advancing women in their field. A descriptive and thematic analysis of the survey and interview data were conducted and findings are interpreted to suggest considerable variation in the characteristics of female coaches’ mentoring relationships, as well as the need to move beyond mentorship to sponsorship for advancing women in coaching. Recommendations for future research and advancing women in coaching are provided.

Between a rock and a hard place: the dilemmas of managing part‐time working in the police service

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-25
Keyword(s):  
Police Force ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Police Station ◽  
Family Friendly ◽  
The Status ◽  
Part Time ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Control

PurposeTo study the effects of the introduction of part‐time working on managing a police force.Design/methodology/approachThis case study involved in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews with part‐time officers in an English police force, their full‐time colleagues and managers.FindingsThe author illustrates practical problems which police managers face in ensuring they have staff in adequate numbers and experience to carry out the duties required of an organization which has to operate 24 hours‐a‐day, seven days‐a‐week and which has no way of knowing in advance what demands will be placed on it at any given time. The study focuses attention on the dilemma of legislation designed to improve the status of part‐time workers generally, and people's expectation of “family friendly” employment, with the traditional “command and control” needs of an organization such as a police force.Practical implicationsImplications for human resource management are identified, as the conflicting needs and views of manager and part‐time employees are explored. These conflicts are particularly difficult for HR to reconcile as part‐time and reduced‐hours working continues its expansion.Originality/valueProvides some useful information on part‐time working at a police station in the UK.

The Employment Pattern of Professional Couples and Their Distribution of Involvement in the Family

1978 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Weingarten
Keyword(s):  
Family Involvement ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Employment History ◽  
Family Work ◽  
Employment Patterns ◽  
The Family ◽  
Employment Pattern ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Modes Of Interaction

Thirty-two two-profession couples in three different age groups with children were interviewed together to determine if there was a relationship between their employment pattern and their distribution of family involvement in the home. The couples followed one of two employment patterns: a similar employment history (SEH) in which both people had worked full-time and continuously and a dissimilar employment history (DEH) in which the husband had worked full-time and continuously but the wife had worked part-time. Their involvement in the home was measured by an 80-item interview that covered two modes of interaction in four task areas. Significant differences were found in the ways SEH and DEH couples allocated tasks. Of particular interest was the breakdown of an equitable distribution of tasks in the area of childcare for SEH couples. It was suggested that couples “negotiate” a division of labor that allows women to compensate for the time they spend away from the children and men to choose the family work that is less threatening to their masculine selves.

EU gender strategy will struggle to close rising gaps

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Equal Pay ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Integral Element ◽  
Fiscal Austerity

Significance Her Commission is making a concerted push to advance gender equality. To that end, it has brought forward an integral element of its 2020 Gender Equality Strategy (GES): a draft directive on equal pay and pay transparency. Impacts Women’s unemployment will be hard to reduce since sectors such as hospitality and tourism will take years to recover. Post-pandemic fiscal austerity would cloud women’s economic prospects if cuts affect child and social care spending. Flexible working would facilitate women’s return to full-time or part-time work.

scholarly journals 301 Older Farmers' Experiences of Musculoskeletal Disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
John Cunningham ◽  
Austin Kerin ◽  
Rose Galvin ◽  
Katie Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Time Basis ◽  
Older Farmers

Abstract Background Almost a third (n=41,000) of all Irish farm holders are aged 65 years or older. Older farmers are vulnerable to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD’s) both by virtue of the nature of their work and their age. MSD’s are a known risk factor for workplace accidents and farming is the highest risk occupation in Ireland. This study aimed to explore older farmers’ experiences of living with and accessing healthcare for MSD’s. Methods A qualitative study design employing semi-structured interviews was employed. Nine Irish farmers aged 65 years and over with current or previous experience of MSD's were recruited. All participants continued to farm on either a full-time or part-time basis. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Four themes describing older farmers' experiences of MSD’s and healthcare were identified; (1) acceptance of MSD’s as inevitable (2) biomechanical and biological beliefs about MSD’s (3) resilience and a commitment to continuing work in response to MSD’s (4) scepticism and avoidance of healthcare. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge this is the first qualitative study of older Irish farmers’ experiences of MSD’s. Findings reveal that older farmer’s experiences differ significantly from those reported by other occupational groups. Commitment to continue working permeated the findings of this study and shaped older farmers' experiences and responses to MSD's. Older farmers accept MSD’s and pain as inevitable consequences of farming, and they respond to MSD’s with stoicism. Lack of healthcare provider knowledge about farming culture and practices contributes to older farmers' negative healthcare experiences and avoidance of healthcare. Given the prevalence of MSD’s in this population future research should focus on developing and evaluating appropriate health promoting and patient-centered interventions to support continued safe farming for older Irish farmers.

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