According to research by Dr Heejung Chung from the University of Kent, a third of all UK workers believe those who work flexibly create more work for others. A similar proportion believe their career will suffer if they use flexible working arrangements. The research also found that the majority of respondents that held negative views against flexible workers were male, while women and especially mothers were the ones who were most likely to suffer from such stereotypes.
Based on data from the Government’s 2011 Work-Life Balance Survey, the research found that one out of five workers (18 percent) said they had experienced direct negative career consequence as a result of working flexibly. Commentating on the research Dr Chung said: ‘It is clear there are still many people who view flexible working as a negative and for different reasons. We need to challenge our prevalent organisational cultures which privileges work above everything else, with long hours considered to be synonymous with productivity and commitment. Such change is crucial especially if flexible working is to help reduce the gender wage gap.’