1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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

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

10. Hours usually worked per week, EU-28

11. % working 48+ hours per week

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

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

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

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

16. 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

17. References
Project URL: 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:
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: 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,

18. 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