A survey by the childcare provider Bright Horizons and the charity Working Families has found that a quarter of working fathers have called in sick to their parents in the desperate hope that they will juggle the demands of work and children (‘One in three working fathers ‘take sickies’ to care for children,’ People Management, 27 January 2015).
The reason is that there is an inability on behalf of the employer, employer or both to incorporate best practice so that workers can also be good parents. One in three of all working parents do not work flexibly, whilst many admitted to neglecting their own health because they do not have time for themselves. Half of working fathers were nervous about requesting reduced hours from their employer; whilst 34 per cent were not confident in asking their employers for time off in order to attend a family event.
The 2015 Modern Families Index discovered that 36 per cent of fathers would rather pretend to be sick than tell their managers that they needed time off to look after their children.
The Index also revealed that 44 per cent of working fathers had lied to their employers about their family for a myriad of reasons, including the true extent of family commitments or domestic problems. Examples included fathers needing the time to collect children from school, cover when childcare arrangements broke down, and hold birthday parties for pre-school children.
Work life impinges on family life for two-fifths of all working parents, while three-quarters stated that they used annual leave in order to support their childcare requirements.
Approximately a third (31%) of working parents stated that work and family life were both out of balance, and a quarter would accept a pay cut to reduce their working hours.
Sarah Jackson, the Chief Executive of Working Families, commented: ‘The study underlines the value to mothers and fathers of dependable childcare, which is often the hidden glue helping to hold busy family lives together. For mothers in particular, dependable childcare is crucial in advancing their careers. Workplace culture is also very important to working families, and we strongly encourage employers to work with the grain of family life, so that parents can give of their best at work and at home.’
Carole Edmond, the Managing Director of Bright Horizons, added: ‘The 2015 Modern Families Index shows that today’s generation of working fathers have a stronger-than-ever desire to be involved with their children and families…However, these increased expectations often bump up against working commitments, leading to stress and unhealthy lifestyles as they try to cram everything in.’
It is important to stress that families are the bedrock of society and that we should do all that we can to support them. However, having said that, it is also very important that there are these discussions between employer and employee undertaken in the arena of honesty.
There is the encouragement to ‘Obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.’ (Ephesians 6: 5 – 8)
It means not throwing a sickie whatever the reason (however good we might think it is), but to talk with the employer with honesty and integrity. Your character should be thing that clinches the family-friendly approach to work, not your absence from the workplace.
With prayer, you should approach your employer with the right attitude, knowing that God want to bless you both in your family and in your employment.
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