Lone parents and blended families: advocating flexible working to support families in transition

Schaefer, Anneke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3967-1667, Gatrell, Caroline and Radcliffe, Laura (2020) Lone parents and blended families: advocating flexible working to support families in transition. In: Flexible Work: Designing our Healthier Future Lives. Current Issues in Work and Organizational Psychology . Routledge, London, pp. 196-212. ISBN 9780429326585 (online); 9780367208455 (hardback); 9780367345662 (paperback)

Preview

Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (386kB) | Preview

Abstract

This chapter examines how flexible working policies might be an important source of organisational support for families in transition. It peovides an overview of families in transition and flexible working, the gendered nature of access to flexible working, and reasons why it is important to consider the impact of flexible working policies on such complex non-traditional families. The chapter explores limitations in our knowledge and suggest a future research agenda laying out why flexible working policies need to be even more flexible than they currently are so as to fit with the transitory nature of families and the increasing need for flexibility that results from this. Lone parenthood is often a transitory state that lasts an average of five years for lone parents in the UK. When a lone parent re-partners, a blended family is created. The chapter argues that research and policy need to recognise and address shifts in attitudes and behaviours rather than assuming social stability.