Fathers' fears over family friendly hours

Fathers are refusing to take up new rights to work family- friendly hours because they fear it would mean " career death", research revealed today.

Only one in 10 men has asked his employers for different working arrangements such as in a job-share.

DTI figures showed that nearly a million working mothers had been keener to request new hours, with one in four asking for change. Nearly 80 per cent of women had their request granted automatically, with a further 10 per cent reaching a compromise deal.

But fathers are failing to take up the rights because they are worried it would lead to them being passed over for promotion or sidelined.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said today: "In so many organisations, it's acceptable for a woman to say, 'I have got children and I need to combine that with work', although even then she might be regarded as not being serious about work commitments.

"But for a man to say he wants to balance work and family is so countercultural that many men fear it is going to be career death."

The survey of 3,500 parents coincides with Europe's largest fatherhood conference, organised by the Fathers Direct pressure group, in London today.

The right to request f lexible working was introduced in the 2002 Employment Act. Employers must show they have examined such requests seriously. Those entitled to ask for different hours have to have a child under six or a disabled child under 18.