A study released today by Bettermen Solutions concludes that a failure to recognize the changing needs of working fathers could have a negative effect on a business' bottom line and keep women stuck under the glass ceiling.
The report, entitled Work Life Balance: A Working Father's Perspective finds that men are stuck between paradigms.
Cameron Phillips, founder of Bettermen and author of the report stated, "men today are expected, and indeed want, to be more involved with their children, but the traditional role of breadwinner is still making that very difficult."
Phillips conducted interviews, focus groups and confidential surveys of 34 fathers and 47 mothers who work full time at two of Canada's “Top 100” employers: Vancity Savings Credit Union and Clearly Contacts.
He found 54% of working dads put "breadwinner" as their top parenting responsibility, while less than 1% of working moms did. Meanwhile, 75% of working moms said they'd be willing to cut back work hours to support a spouse climbing the corporate ladder while just over 50% of dads said they would do the same.
“The easy conclusion to make would be that women are still expected to do it all, while men get to focus on career, but that vastly misses the point,” stated Phillips. “The unaddressed issue is that we still undervalue fatherhood and expect little will change for men in the workplace once they become dads.”
To support the claim, Phillips points to the fact that, when asked to describe how they were viewed by colleagues and employers, 50% of female respondents said “a working mother” while 75% of men responded simply, “a worker.”
“Until we shift workplace expectations to recognize men as working fathers with unique needs, business will suffer, moms will shoulder the load at home and career women will continue to come up against the glass ceiling.”
Jennifer Harrison
Twitter: jharrisonbiv