Working parents, flexibility and job quality: what are the trade-offs?

King’s College London and Working Families are launching their new report examining the relationship between job quality and parenthood in the UK.

Rapid changes taking place in the world of work due to the impacts of COVID-19, Brexit, technology and automation are disrupting livelihoods and working arrangements. Consequently, the government aspires not just to get people into work, but to ‘create high quality jobs for all UK citizens’. Achieving this goal necessitates a deeper understanding of labour market inequalities, including variations in people’s experiences of job quality.

New research by the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, King’s College London, in collaboration with Working Families and supported by the Nuffield Foundation, contributes to this debate by gathering insights on the experience of job quality amongst working parents.

Capturing the diverse voices of working parents against the backdrop of COVID-19, the report finds that flexible working has a high currency for parents and goes far beyond allowing people to work from home. But whilst flexibility is key, the study showcases the importance of other elements of job quality for parents, including job security and support from managers. 

This event will harness the latest evidence to define practical solutions to improve the lives of working parents and carers.  

Schedule 

• Presentation of research findings and recommendations to improve job quality for parents
• Expert speakers’ contribution to the debate on job quality for working parents
• Expert panel discussion on the key findings and recommendations
• Audience Q&A focused on practical actions to improve job quality

Audience 

This event will be of interest to employers, charities, policymakers, and researchers interested in improving work for parents and carers. It will consider the action required to improve job quality and ensure that people with caring responsibilities are not disadvantaged in the labour market.