The Case for Change

The situation

Weekend working is having an adverse effect on families across Britain, particularly on disadvantaged households. New findings from the National Centre for Social Research, commissioned by Keep Time for Children, reveal that around 1.4 million parents are working regularly through the whole weekend and over 2.5 million families are affected by a parent working regularly over the weekend.

These parents who regularly work weekends are more likely than others to be poorly qualified and on a low income. Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families remarks, "Low-waged parents are particularly vulnerable to work at weekends. They simply can't afford to lose their job, and often can't risk arguing for working hours which will let them spend time with their family." While weekend working is often the result of consumer choice, it leaves little choice to the workers themselves.

Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, published in September 2002, found that 75% of workers who work weekends do not do so out of choice. Amongst mothers in this group, 78% said that they were dissatisfied with working on Sundays.

The effect:

The Rowntree report makes it clear that weekend working is having a damaging impact on family life. “Parents who worked on Sundays were considerably more likely than other parents to report that their work frequently disrupted activities with children, as well as family activities.” There is a large body of research demonstrating that time spent with parents is fundamental to children's well-being and development. Even the simplicity of eating meals together as a family is a predictor of educational attainment.

As a society, we have a responsibility towards our children both as vulnerable members of society and in nurturing the next generation. Not only is it right that we should take preventative measures to avoid generating even greater social problems related to alienation such as crime and anti-social behaviour, we actively want to strive for a flourishing and healthy society. A key way of doing this is to Keep Time for Children.