Do Co-Workers Resent You for Working Flex Hours?

A recent survey revealed that 25% of men and 20% of women felt they had to pick up the slack for flex time co-workers.

There isn't a lot said about the downside of offering or working flex hours. Companies who offer flex time make sure everyone knows it, especially the staff at Working Mother Magazine. The magazine compiles an annual Best 100 Companies to Work For list. Businesses compete heavily to make that list.

Jefferson Wells Accounting offers flex time and considers that benefit one of the reasons 35% of their management workforce is women. Men make up less than 20% of managers. One manager said she didn't feel or see evidence of resentment. Fathers employed by Jefferson Wells can take off early to attend their children's school and sports functions.

The survey, by Adecco Group North America, the world's largest employment agency, revealed 38% of men stating the feeling that moms are receiving special treatment in the work force.

It's understandable that men are going to resent special perks given to women, if indeed they are. However, women do the bulk of child care tasks. The babies are the woman's responsibility most of the time. So why shouldn't the women receive perks that don't apply to the men?

It seems that many men don't want to use flex time, but do not want women to use it either. Some childless women feel the way the men do. They resent women with children using flex time.

59% of men between the ages of 35-44 stated they perceived resentment among co-workers regarding moms working flex time. 88% of workers surveyed admitted admiration for women balancing family and work.

Balancing work and home is something women have been trying to do for years. A Career Builder.com survey of over 1000 mothers working full-time revealed that 25% of them are not happy with their family-work balance.

44% of women responding said they'd trade a cut in pay for more time with their children. 23% said they missed at least 3 important events in their child's life in the past year.

There's no easy answer to flex time issues. Women with children certainly benefit from the ability to bring home income yet be there for the children. There's at least one worker in most offices who does not pull his or her share of the workload. Leaving others to pick up the slack isn't something restricted to flex time moms or dads.

No matter what solutions companies try, they won't satisfy all the employees all the time. Flex time certainly is too valuable a benefit to lose.