Why do Spanish fathers still make little use of the family-friendly measures?

Abstract

<jats:p> This article examines why Spanish fathers still make little use of the family-friendly measures (FFM) they are entitled to. Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach is applied to the analysis of this agency gap in work-family balance (WFB). Males wishing to balance work and family face a series of barriers that inhibit their use of FFM, creating a gap between the theoretical right to use these measures and the real ability to do so. We illustrate this broader issue with qualitative information collected from a Spanish sample (59 semi-structured interviews with 43 salaried fathers, 6 salaried mothers and 10 human resources (HR) managers). Three types of factors (conversion factors) that enhance/limit the capabilities of fathers to use reconciliation measures were considered: individual factors, policy and societal factors, and factors related to the organizational culture of workplaces. </jats:p>

Tools and data for the analysis of gender policies: A review

“…In the same vein, the elimination of gender biases in companies' work–life balance policies (work–life balance is not just a women's issue) could help to reduce the gender gaps in the labour market. When companies provide incentives and facilities to men, then men do reconcile and the gender gaps against women are reduced (Fernández‐Cornejo et al, 2020).…”

Incremento en la duración del permiso exclusivo para padres y sus consecuencias en el cuidado infantil desde la perspectiva de las madres

“…Y, a pesar de este incremento de participación de los varones en el cuidado infantil y del aumento de las mujeres en el mercado laboral (Fernández Cordón y Tobío, 2019) son las madres las que siguen llevando la mayor parte del tiempo de dedicación (González y Jurado-Guerrero, 2015;Schulz, 2021;Bianchi et al, 2012). Junto con el cuidado, las medidas de conciliación siguen siendo utilizadas en menor medida por los padres que por las madres (Fernández-Cornejo et al, 2020).…”