More than half of small and medium-sized firms provide some form of family friendly work arrangements, according to a study commissioned by the Equality Authority, writes Padraig Yeates. But the report, Investing in People, says the term family friendly "is not generally used nor clearly understood" in the sector.
It also says few employers in the sector have formal, established practices.
One result is that, while a high proportion of women and employees in clerical and administrative roles have been able to avail of such arrangements, it has been more difficult for operatives in traditional industrial jobs to do so. For instance, in medium firms 80 per cent of companies in services have family friendly arrangements but only 40 per cent in manufacturing.
The pattern of these policies generally reflects employers' perceptions that they are primarily for women with childcare problems. But the report says this ignores the changing role of men in society, the commitments of some workers to care for ageing parents and the needs of working single parents.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue, said yesterday his department would allocate £4 million (€5.1 million) under the National Development Plan for the promotion of family friendly policies.
