Flexibility and fatherhood in Europe: An Analysis of Father's Working Time Patterns in the EU28 Colette Fagan and Helen Norman University of Manchester, UK 16th September 2017 ESPAnet: New Horizons of European Policy: Risks, Opportunities and Challenges 14-16 September 2017, ISCSP – University of Lisbon, Portugal

Presentation outline Work-time patterns across the EU-28 Policy context Family-related leave and childcare Work-time regulations Research Questions Data Results Summary, conclusions and next steps

Work-time patterns across the EU-28 Work-time arrangements and schedules vary across countries due to differences in work-time and work-family policies and workplace practices Women are more likely than men to adjust work schedules (e.g. to work part-time) if they are raising children Less is known about father’s work-time arrangements other than: Men’s work-time varies across countries e.g. average FT hours are longer in some countries Parenthood impacts less on men’s work-time than on women’s

Family-related leave and childcare Maternity leave - longer with a higher benefit rate to be taken just before, during and immediately after the birth. Paternity leave - shorter (average length 12.5 days) to be taken soon after childbirth. Parental leave - leave available for mothers and fathers either as i) a non-transferable, individual right or ii) a family right. Leave to care for children who are ill - varies between countries in terms of length, age of children and payment. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) 22 countries have an ECEC entitlement but in most countries it only applies from age 3+ This means there is a gap between the end of maternity (or parental) leave and the start of ECEC

Family-related leave for fathers Paternity and Parental Leave (PL) affect fathers and their involvement in raising children Men’s take up is much higher in some countries compared to others e.g. >80% of fathers take up PL in Sweden Fathers take an average of 109 days/15 weeks 13.7% of eligible fathers took PL in DE (in 2008) 2-8% of fathers estimated to take up (Shared) PL in the UK Sources: Fagan and Norman (2013); Norman and Fagan (2017); Duvander et al. 2017

Work-Time Regulations 2003 EU Working Time Directive Improved on in many countries with national laws and or widespread collective agreements covering: Maximum full-time hours (48 hours p/week) Opportunities for flexible adjustments to work schedules (e.g. flexitime, ‘right to request’ reduced hours) Annual leave entitlements

Research questions Do the work hours and schedules of fathers with dependent children vary markedly from other men and if so, how? Is there a difference between fathers and other men’s abilities to control their own work hours?

Data 6th European Working Conditions Survey (2015) We compare fathers who have a child <18 against other men who have no children <18 All are aged 15+ Covers 35,765 households across the EU-28 Men (%) Women (%) Child <18 31.6 36.9 No child <18 68.4 63.1 Total 100

1. Do the work hours and schedules of fathers with dependent children vary markedly from other men and if so, how?

Hours usually worked per week, EU-28

% working 48+ hours per week

% working part-time (<35 hours p/week)

% working weekends, nights and long days, EU-28

2. Is there a difference between fathers and other men’s abilities to control their own work hours?

% of men who have no control, can adapt within limits or can determine own work hours

Summary and conclusions Within countries, there is little difference between fathers and other men’s work hours, schedules and schedule control Across countries, there are important differences and this shapes fathers’ roles in work and at home. Helping fathers to balance work and family in the first year of parenthood is important (see Fagan and Norman 2016). This can be done through: Parental leave that is well paid and has a period reserved specifically for the father Limits to long hours working Promotion of flexible working to men Good quality, flexible and affordable childcare

References Project URL: http://projects.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/involved- fathers/ Fagan, C. and Norman, H. (2013) ‘Men and gender equality: tackling gender equality in family roles and in social care jobs’ in F. Bettio, J. Plantenga and M. Smith (Eds) Gender and the European Labour Market, Routledge: Oxon, UK. Fagan, C., Norman, H. (2016): ‘What makes fathers involved? An exploration of the longitudinal influence of fathers’ and mothers’ employment on father’s involvement in looking after their pre-school children in the UK’ in Crespi, I., Ruspini, E. (ed): Balancing work and family in a changing society: the father’s perspective, Palgrave MacMillan: Basingstoke Norman, H. and Fagan, C. (2017) What makes fathers involved in their children’s upbringing? Working Families Work Flex Blog, 20 January 2017: https://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/workflex-blog/father-involvement/ Norman, H., Watt, L., Fagan, C. (2017) What should mums and dads do? Changes in attitudes towards parenting, Working Families Work Flex Blog, 27 March 2017: https://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/workflex-blog/what-should- mums-and-dads-do-changes-in-attitudes-towards-parenting/ Norman, H., Elliot, M. and Fagan, C. (2014) ‘Which fathers are the most involved in taking care of their toddlers in the UK? An investigation of the predictors of paternal involvement’, Community, Work & Family, 17:2, 163-180

Next steps… To compare self-reports of work-life balance for fathers and other men within and across countries To control for household and labour market situation including Number and age of children Occupation or education level Mother’s employment and work-time