Researchers from Yale, Texas, and Harvard Universities have found that managers are more likely to grant flexitime requests to men in both professional and hourly-paid employment.
Women were unlikely to be granted flexitime regardless of the reason for their request. Women with childcare needs who worked in lower-status role – were among the least likely to have requests approved. Even when the reason for leave was professional development or training it was also more likely for men to have requests granted.
The author infers that managers and female members of staff have an absence of trust as women – strongly associated with family care – are assumed to either hide their real reasons for wanting flexitime, or do not deserve it as they will later opt-out of work to assume childcare responsibilities.
Read more on Slate.