Flexible working – Not only for women!
We are living in an emancipated, open and difference-accepting world – with a high demand of skilled workers in many countries. Thus companies are creating framework conditions to attract and retain talents as well as to make the reconciliation of private and working life easier for their employees. One measure to do this is showing flexibility regarding the time and the place of work. As long as the conditions of the job allow this (e.g. working from home when being dependent on certain machines which are located on the employers premises will be difficult to make possible), employees are fare more self-determined regarding where and when to do their tasks than a couple of years ago. Still it seems as if in our minds certain – if not all – types of flexible working arrangements are related to women. When talking about employees who are working part-time – truly – who has men in mind? But isn’t it the time to overcome such traditional views?
And men want to have more flexibility: For example according to the report “Men get flexible! Mainstreaming Flexible Work in Australian business” which findings are that it was one of the five most highly valued job characteristics for men to have the flexibility to manage family and personal life – and for young fathers it was the third highest.
Taking a bit more time for the family in certain phases of the life should be a legitimate career choice – for both, men and women! With an increasing number of dual-earner families it is important that companies give the needed support through making flexible working possible and creating a culture of acceptance for such possibilities.