Jennifer Tomlinson
Female part-time managers: Work-life balance, aspirations and career mobility
Tomlinson, Jennifer; Durbin, Susan
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the employment trajectories, aspirations, worklife balance and career mobility of women working as parttime managers. Design/methodology/approach – Indepth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 female parttime managers and four of their line managers in public and privatesector organizations. Interviews explored women's career trajectories before and after the transition to parttime work and focused on career mobility, aspirations and worklife balance. Findings – The parttime managers in this sample held varied careers while working fulltime but careers stalled once a transition to parttime work was made. The majority were career focused, worked intensively and felt frustrated with their lack of mobility and career progression while working parttime. The majority worked in excess of their contracted hours and did not experience an appropriate reallocation of work when they reduced hours. Practical implications – This paper is of value to both researchers and policy makers. Policy implications point to the limitations of the current UK legislation on the right to request flexible working. The paper states that further research would be beneficial on the ways in which managers employed on parttime and other flexible contracts, operate successfully in organizations, with the aim of championing alternative working patterns and breaking down traditional long hours cultures which act as a barrier to women and parttime workers. Originality/value – This paper explores the employment profiles and experiences of a little studied and rare group of female workers. © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Citation
Tomlinson, J., & Durbin, S. (2010). Female part-time managers: Work-life balance, aspirations and career mobility. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 29(3), 255-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610151011028859
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Date | Mar 26, 2010 |
Journal | Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal |
Print ISSN | 2040-7149 |
Electronic ISSN | 1758-7093 |
Publisher | Emerald |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 29 |
Issue | 3 |
Pages | 255-270 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02610151011028859 |
Keywords | employment trajectories, part-time managers, aspirations, work-life balance, career mobility |
Public URL | https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/988798 |
Publisher URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02610151011028859 |
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