Does flexible work ‘work’ in Australia? A survey of employed mothers’ and fathers’ work, family and health

ABSTRACT

Workplace flexibility is perceived to benefit parents yet evidence of the effectiveness of formal work arrangements in promoting parents’ health is mixed, and few have evaluated informal flexibility. This study investigates Australian mothers’ and fathers’ use of formal (employer-provided) and informal (self-directed) work arrangements and associations with work-family conflict and health outcomes (psychological distress, occupational fatigue, burnout). Online survey data from a national cross-sectional sample of 4268 employed parents (one or more children ≤18 years) were collected in 2016. Standardised measures of health outcomes were reported. Analyses were stratified by gender given the gendered division of work and care in Australia. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed greater use of flexible work arrangements (e.g. flexitime, flexiplace) was associated with lower fatigue and less burnout for fathers and mothers. Conversely, higher use of flexible leave arrangements (e.g. purchased leave) and informal arrangements (e.g. performing family-related tasks at work) were each associated with poorer health outcomes. Findings contribute novel evidence on the status of workplace flexibility for Australian fathers and mothers. Flexible work arrangements may have some health benefits, yet the widespread use of informal arrangements suggests flexible workplace provisions alone are not meeting parents’ needs for family-related support.

RESUMEN

La flexibilidad laboral se percibe como un beneficio para los padres pero aún así hay evidencias mixtas en cuanto a la efectividad de las condiciones laborales formales en la promoción de la salud de padres, y muy pocos estudios han evaluado la flexibilidad laboral informal. Este estudio investiga el uso de condiciones formales (dictadas por el empleador) e informales (auto-impuestas) en madres y padres australianos, así como la relación entre los conflictos trabajo-familia y la salud (estrés psicológico, fatiga ocupacional, agotamiento). En 2016 se recogieron datos de una encuesta en línea de una muestra nacional transversal de 4 268 padres (uno o más hijos menores de 18 años). Se reportaron medidas estandarizadas de resultados de salud. Los análisis se estratificaron por género debido a la división de trabajo y cuidados según el género que se da en Australia. Análisis mediante regresión linear multivariable arrojaron que un uso mayor de condiciones laborales flexibles (ej. flexibilidad de horarios y del lugar de trabajo) estaba relacionado con niveles inferiores de fatiga y agotamiento tanto en padres como en madres. Por el contrario, un uso mayor de regímenes vacacionales flexibles (ej. vacaciones sin sueldo) y condiciones informales (ej. realizar en el trabajo tareas relacionadas con la familia) se asociaba con resultados de salud más pobres. Las conclusiones arrojan evidencias nuevas en cuanto a la flexibilidad laboral para padres y madres australianos. Disfrutar de condiciones laborales flexibles puede tener beneficios para la salud, pero el uso generalizado de condiciones informales sugiere que los acuerdos laborales flexibles como medida única no cumplen con las necesidades de apoyo familiar de los padres.

KEYWORDS:

• Parents
• employment
• flexible work arrangements
• work-family conflict
• informal work accommodations to family
• health

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• Padres
• empleo
• condiciones laborales flexibles
• conflictos trabajo-familia
• acuerdos laborales informales para familias
• salud

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Transforming Human Societies Research Focus Area, La Trobe University and the Roberta Holmes Transition to Contemporary Parenthood Program. Dr Amanda Cooklin was supported by a Tracey Banivanua Mar Fellowship, La Trobe University.

Notes on contributors

Stacey Hokke

Dr Stacey Hokke is a Research Fellow in the Transition to Contemporary Parenthood Program at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University.

Shannon K. Bennetts

Dr Shannon K. Bennetts is a Research Fellow and Project Coordinator of the EHLS at School Study within the Transition to Contemporary Parenthood Program, Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University.

Sharinne Crawford

Dr Sharinne Crawford is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Transition to Contemporary Parenthood Program at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University.

Liana Leach

Dr Liana Leach is a Senior Research Fellow in the Society, Culture and Health research stream at The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University.

Naomi J. Hackworth

Dr Naomi J. Hackworth is a Senior Project Manager of Raising Children Network at the Parenting Research Centre, and was formerly a Senior Research Fellow in the Transition to Contemporary Parenthood Program at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University.

Lyndall Strazdins

Prof. Lyndall Strazdins is a Professor and Director of the Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University.

Cattram Nguyen

Dr Cattram Nguyen is a Biostatistician in the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit at Murdoch Children's Research Institute.

Jan M. Nicholson

Prof. Jan M. Nicholson is the Inaugural Roberta Holmes Professor for the Transition to Contemporary Parenthood Program and the Director of the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University.

Amanda R. Cooklin

Dr Amanda R. Cooklin is a Senior Research Fellow in the Transition to Contemporary Parenthood Program at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University.