A new site for working dads shows just how far the debate around dads at work has come.
Over the last 2 years we’ve covered a range of different stories, interviews and guides around work/life balance, and we know it’s a very important issue for dads, though not always one with obvious and clear solutions.
Working dads increasingly close to burn out, constantly
When Talking Talent released their own study on working dads in 2017, it showed that as much as 72% of working dads were close to suffering burn out, constantly trying to do more at home as well as work. And to signify the launch of a new flexible jobs site for dads, workingdads.co.uk, their survey of over 600 dads shows that 73% of dads are considering searching for a flexible job and 16% are actively looking for one.
Perhaps there’s a strong correlation between the two. Dads increasingly suffering at work, are looking at new types of roles in order to achieve a truer work/life balance.
Among the findings of the survey:
- 95% say they consider flexible hours either very important [66%] or important [29%].
- 72% think companies still mainly want traditional hours. Sixty-nine per cent think employers do not realise modern families have changed.
- 72% fear their employer’s reaction if they asked for flexible working.
Modern family today means a need to re-look at the shape of work
Modern families have changed dramatically in the last few years. New generations are creating much more equality across their day-to-day lives. This we know is especially true in the world of parenting, where dads are taking on much more active roles.
The results of our recent Dad Index showed that 87% of Millennial dads are actively involved in day-to-day parenting, and yet one of the areas we hear a lot about is the lack of flexibility in their working environment.
The need for greater flexibility continues to grow
There’s a cultural shift needed across industry to reflect the changing shape of family today Interestingly, the Modern Families Index was also published today for 2019, and showed that 3 in 10 parents in couple households share childcare equally. Interestingly, 34% of those dads surveyed in the Working Dads research are working full time with some degree of flexibility.
Gillian Nissim, founder of the new site, said: “We are keen to build in the success of Workingmums.co.uk and reflect changes in what modern families want. When I launched Workingmums.co.uk 12 years ago the appetite for flexible new roles was coming almost exclusively from women. That has changed. Our survey shows that dads want more time with their children, more equal parenting and employers who acknowledge that.”
“Modern family life is a joint endeavour. With greater equality at home enabling greater equality at work, and the workplace needs to reflect that. It’s a win win – for families and for employers.”
They’re not in this alone
Harriet Hounsell, McDonald’s UK & Ireland Chief People Officer, who are sponsoring the working dads site said: “Having worked with Workingmums for a number of years, we’re pleased to be sponsoring the launch of the Workingdads site. It’s important for us to champion everyone at work – but also flexibility so that work can fit around life; whether mums, dads, students or carers.
Workingdads.co.uk, as a resource for fathers at work or getting into employment, will no doubt be an important hub for advice and guidance, as well as championing the issues that matter – as a business we are delighted to be working together.”
Here’s wishing the very best for the Working Dads team in the months and years ahead.
