Your flextime policies are meant to keep morale up for everyone. But some employees may feel they’re getting the short end of the stick.
According to findings from a recent Center for Work-Life Policy study, one group in particular isn’t charmed by traditional work-life balance/flextime practices: Childless working men.
Why? They feel as though colleagues with children get special treatment.
Some findings about childless male professionals:
- 43% agree with the statement “colleagues with children are given more latitude with flexibility”
- 37% agree that “my personal commitments are perceived to be less important than those of colleagues with children”
- They are 60% more likely than working fathers to think their colleagues are judgmental about their personal lives, and
- They are less likely to be invited by co-workers to social gatherings.
And since 31% of male workers over the age of 40 have no children, that data adds up to a potentially big morale problem for employers.
The solution
Sylvia Ann Hewlett, the founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy offers employees this piece of advice to ease negative perceptions of work-life balance/flex practices:
Take steps to make sure your policies support every employee’s life choices equally — whether it be raising kids, training for a marathon, taking care of a friend in need or taking a class at a local university.
Have you ever felt as though certain employees at your organization have ever received preferential treatment when it came to time off? Share your thoughts in the Comments Box below.
