News

5th April 2004

Dad's fear new work rules mean 'career death'

The Government admitted last night that fathers are too scared to capitalise on new flexible working rules because they fear they will be sidelined or passed over for promotion.

The legislations, which came into effect last April, say parents with a child under six can ask employers for a change in working hours, day or location of work, provided they have been with the employer for six months. It also introduced paternity leave which allows fathers to take two weeks off after the birth of a baby.

However, a survey of 3,500 parents, published today by the Department of Trade and Industry, claims there has been an extraordinary response to the arrangements but only amongst mothers.

The survey shows that one in 4 women have requested a change in working hours compared to just one in 10 eligible men. 80 per cent of parents who asked had their request accepted, while another one in 10 has reached a compromise with the employer. The employer can only refuse for a number of specific business reasons and nine out of 10 of those parents whose requests were refused said it was done for unjustified reasons.

Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary, said, "In so many organisations it's acceptable for a woman to say 'I have got children and I need to combine that with work, although even then she might be regarded as not being serious about work commitments.

"But for a man to say he wants to balance work and family is so counter-cultural that many men fear it is going to be career death."

Jack O'Sullivan, of Fathers Direct, the national information service for fathers, said that fathers now did a third of parental child care in dual-earner families and they are urging the government to increase paternity leave pay to 90 per cent of earnings, up from the current £100 per week.

A second poll, carried out by charity Maternity Allowance said while 25 per cent of parents said their working conditions had improved, 27 per cent said their situation had worsened. They also dispute findings from the DTI, saying that one in 4 parents have had their requests for flexible hours turned down.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of public service union Unison, said they had wanted the legislation to give employees the right to flexible working, not the right to ask.

"Our fear was that most employers would find a reason to refuse. Unfortunately these fears are borne out by this survey, which shows that employers are turning down reasonable requests for more flexible working."

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