http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26098 Wed, 22 May 2013 09:16:13 GMT 2013-05-22T09:16:13Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26194 Title: The Right to Request Flexible Working: A 'Very British' Approach to Gender (In)Equality? Authors: Himmelweit, S. Abstract: The UK has introduced an unusual right for parents of young children to be able to request a change to their working arrangements, and an obligation on employers to consider such requests seriously. This paper examines why such a right was adopted in the UK, and assesses its impact. Different models of gender equality are examined and the argument made that movement towards a universal care-giver/worker model is likely to be the most effective way of promoting gender equality, particularly in the UK context. The paper goes on to consider whether and under what conditions the right to request flexible working can contribute to furthering gender equality through such a model in the UK and similar societies. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26194 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26193 Title: Budgeting for Work-Life Balance: The Ideology and Politics of Work and Family Policy in Australia Authors: Hill, E Abstract: Since its election in 1996 the Howard Government has invested billions of dollars in Australian families with children. Much of this money has been delivered through policies the Government claims will 'support families in the choices they wish to make' about how they combine paid work and family life (Howard 2005). This paper evaluates three areas of Commonwealth budget expenditure on work and family policy: the Family Tax Benefit; the Maternity Payment; and the Child Care Benefi t and Tax Rebate. Analysis of the structure of these benefits highlights how a traditional ideology of gender and gender relations is embedded within the policy framework and delivers greater financial support to households in which women prioritise staying at home to care over paid employment. The policy bias toward traditional gender relations makes government rhetoric about choice problematic and shows that the work and family tensions that exist at the level of the household also exist at the policy level, with negative implications for women's labour market participation. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26193 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26192 Title: What Does Family-Friendly Really Mean? Wellbeing, Time, and the Quality of Parents' Job Authors: Strazdins, L.; Shipley, M.; Broom, D.H. Abstract: We present a brief index of parent job quality, classifying jobs by four working conditions: paid parental leave, perceived security, control and fl exible work times. Jobs vary from optimal (with all conditions) to poor (none or one condition), and we describe differences in mothers' and fathers' job quality by education; work hours; and casual, fixed-term or permanent employment. Analyses are based on a large, nationally representative sample of parents with children aged 4-5 years (the Growing Up in Australia study; N=2,164 mothers; 2,614 fathers). Fathers were more likely to have higher quality jobs than mothers, but both had poorer quality jobs if employed casually or part-time. High-quality jobs were associated with better parent wellbeing, a finding replicated in a second, smaller study. Sustaining the wellbeing of working parents should be an aim of family friendliness. The index gives workplaces and government a way to benchmark and evaluate parents' jobs. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26192 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26191 Title: Marginalising Women in the Labour Market: 'Wage Scarring' Effects of Part-time Work Authors: Chalmers, J.; Hill, T. Abstract: Australian women are encouraged to use part-time work to alleviate work and family imbalance. Accordingly, part-time work enabling women to maintain attachment to their career, to acquire human capital, and to add to their salaries is integral to a family-friendly society. UK research fi nds that rather than advance careers, part-time work experience is associated with a reduction in earnings. This paper reports on the fi rst Australian attempt to undertake analogous analysis. Using the Negotiating the Life Course data, the only large-sample Australian data set containing information on earnings and part-time and full-time work experience, we fi nd that part-time work experience does not lead to financial rewards in full-time jobs. In fact part-time work generally impinges on wage growth. We advocate for policies that facilitate movement between part-time and full-time hours in the same job, the equivalent treatment of part-time and full-time workers, and family-friendly jobs, regardless of hours worked. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26191 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z