Addressing the “Fatherhood Forfeit”

My research explores previously-identified phenomena which highlighted a tendency for managers to categorise individual employees based on gender stereotypes. This can result in mothers being seen to face a ‘Motherhood Penalty’ in the workplace, and at the point of selection, whereas fathers reap ‘benefits’ in relation to full-time employment. However, my preliminary analysis has showed the reverse also exists when it comes to part-time work, and a ‘Fatherhood Forfeit’ emerges which sees fathers face a number of potential issues while mothers receive praise for their dedication to proactively seeking a work-life balance.

In the UK, traditional patterns of employment and parenting are in decline, and the stereotype of fathers going to work while mothers raise a family are increasingly diminishing. Conversely, we are seeing an increasing number of fathers working fewer hours to accommodate family life, while mothers increasingly work full-time. In the context of these societal changes, a shift in the attitudes of employers is also required so that workers are treated fairly on the basis of their skill set rather than their familial choices.

My study included an online survey completed by around 100 managers, where participants were asked to score fictitious applicants who were equal apart from their parental status. It also featured a focus group made up of managers and working parents, and a series of interviews with parents, managers and HR professionals.

The preliminary findings indicate that when wanting to work less hour’s fathers can be seen to face a ‘Fatherhood Forfeit’, with mothers being scored 5% higher than fathers through the online survey despite having similar qualifications and experience.

In the focus groups and interviews, the ‘Fatherhood Forfeit’ was apparent again with managers viewing fathers who wanted to work part-time with suspicion and considering them deviant. Fathers themselves said they felt they received less workplace support than mothers and had to make more of a case than their female counterparts when wanting to work part-time. They also reported often facing ‘Where is mum?’ discrimination’, felt a loss of status and had friendship issues as a result of their reduced working hours.

For the full-time post, the online survey bucked the trends shown in previous research, with the mother scoring 8% higher than her male counterpart. However, the focus groups were consistent with existing studies, with the female applicant facing questions about reliability as well as judgments about her partner’s ability to provide and concerns about her apparent wish not to spend more time with her children.

The issues raised by managers and parents in my research are quite alarming and warrant further exploration. This initial research may explain why so many more mothers work part-time than fathers. If as a society we are to reach a position of equality for parents, it is critical that modern workplaces address the issue of the ‘Fatherhood Forfeit’ to reduce the disparities that exist in the workplace.

*Jasmine Kelland is a Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of Plymouth.

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