Working in female-dominated workplaces 'means worse access to flexible working arrangements'

Employees in female-dominated workplaces have the worst access to flexible working arrangements, according to new research.

Despite many assuming lower wages in such workplaces are justified through family-friendly arrangements, the study found provisions actually worse than in gender-neutral or male-dominated offices.

The research, from the University of Kent, examined 27 EU countries, and found the best workplaces for providing flexibility were ones where men and women were equally represented.

Researcher Dr Heejung Chung, of the University's School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, found that what she called a 'women's work penalty' existed in every country covered by her study.

She said: "Working in jobs and sectors where women were over-represented decreased the likelihood of access to schedule control for both men and women.