Use of family friendly work arrangements: differences between lone and couple parents
Jody Hughes and Matthew Gray
Australian Institute of Family Studies and Australian National University
Contact Email:   Jody.Hughesaifs.gov.au

In order to assist those with caring responsibilities to combine caring with paid employment a focus of government policy has been on enhancing the family friendliness of Australian workplaces. Despite the implementation of policies that aim to increase employment rates of lone parents, there has been little research on the work arrangements used by lone parents to balance paid work and caring, and how they differ from couple parents. Lone parents level of need and use of family friendly work arrangements may differ to that of couple parents since lone parents often provide all the parental care of children.

This paper presents information on differences between lone and couple parents’ in use of, and unmet need for, family-friendly work arrangements. The analysis is based on data from the Managing Caring Responsibilities and Paid Employment Survey, NSW, 2000. The work arrangements and types of leave examined include: flex time; rostered day off; working from home; time off in lieu; shift work; part-time work; casual work; informal arrangements with employer; paid leave; and unpaid leave. The shift to self-employment or contracting as a way of balancing work and caring responsibilities is also examined. These data provide insight into the strategies lone and couple parents use to balance work and family responsibilities, and how they differ.

NOTE: The paper will be published in the forthcoming issue of Family Matters (Issue 71, Winter 2005).

Paper Download Information (if available):

Paper184.ppt

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