Flexible Work Arrangements and Parental Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of flexible workplace arrangements (such as working from home, flex time and easily being able to take a few hours off work on occasion to deal with personal or family matters) on the probability of having ‘high life satisfaction’, ‘low level of stress’ and ‘high satisfaction with balance between work and home’ for parents who have at least one child under five years old. Using data from the 2016 General Social Survey – Canadians at work and home, and by applying simple probit methodology, this study finds that flexible work arrangements are not associated with parents having ‘high life satisfaction’, ‘low level of stress’ and ‘high satisfaction with balance between work and home’, and weekly working hours and satisfaction with division of chores is found to be a better predictor of these outcomes.