Are employers biased when offering flexible working benefits?

Flexible work is a much sought-after perk, and one which has gained traction over the past few years. But is it unfairly weighted toward one gender over another?

A public suggestion from Alexander Mann Solutions advised organizations need to do more to encourage a culture of flexibility across the entire workforce, in order to foster equality.

The suggestion follows a report from the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee, which recommended that all new jobs be advertised as flexible. This report found that fathers, even more so than mothers, are likely to believe they will be viewed negatively by their employers should they ask for flexible working.

The study also highlighted that 96% of employers claim to offer flexible working, and less than 10% of quality job vacancies are actually open to flexible hours.

“While the recommendations in this report are designed with fathers in mind, the benefits of promoting working options which appeal to a wider pool of available talent should not be underestimated,” said Paul Modley, director of diversity and inclusion at Alexander Mann.

“The right to work flexibly should not be viewed as the preserve of females with young families or individuals in lower skilled roles. Society on the whole and expectations of employees are changing.

“Regardless of age, gender or level of seniority, individuals are increasingly seeking to work in a way which fits with their wider lifestyle and commitments.

“Employers who fail to respond to this desire risk missing out on the skills and experience of a huge proportion of the working population.”