Limited Access: Disparities in Flexible Work Schedules and Work-at-home

• Published in: Journal of family and economic issues 2008-03, Vol.29 (1), p.86-109
• Main Author: Golden, Lonnie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Economic models; Economic statistics; Economic theory; Employees; Employers; Employment; Families & family life; Family; Family studies; Flexible hours; Hours of work; Labor market; Original Paper; Part-time employment; Personality and Social Psychology; Schedules; Scheduling; Social Policy; Social Sciences; Sociology; Sociology of work; Sociology of work and sociology of organizations; Studies; Work at home; Work life balance; Work organization. Working relations; Workers; Working conditions; Working hours
• ISSN: 1058-0476; 1573-3475
• DOI: 10.1007/s10834-007-9090-7

This research tests predictions regarding potential disparities among the employed by personal characteristics in the ability to vary the starting and ending times of their workday and engage in work from home. Women and African-Americans possess less access to flexible work schedules, even when controlling for most job characteristics. Married men have more access, but only if they are parents, and mothers only if they have pre-school-age children. Workers with part-time or long hours gain far greater access. Work-at-home is more common among women, the married and parents-thus, relatively more reflective of family demands. The results suggest where public and organizational policies could be focused to spread flexible work arrangements more toward those who both most value it and lack it.