Managing Motherhood in the Australian Construction Industry: Work-family Balance, Parental Leave and Part-time Work

Helen Lingard; Jasmine Lin

doi:10.5130/AJCEB.v3i2.2915

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Published: Nov 18, 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5130/AJCEB.v3i2.2915

Helen Lingard

University of Melbourne

Jasmine Lin

University of Melbourne

Abstract

A survey of women in the Australian construction industrywas undertaken to examine women's work experiencesin construction. Questionnaires were distributed to threehundred women in construction occupations and 109completed and usable questionnaires were returned.Women were found to be seriously under-represented insite-based roles. Site/project engineers worked longer hoursthan other occupational groups and expressed significantlygreater work-family conflict. Lack of flexibility and theinability to balance work and family were common themesin the qualitative comments made by many respondents.Even when women indicated that part time work options andmaternity entitlements were provided by their organizations,many expressed a reluctance to use them and perceivedcareer penalty associated with this usage. It is concludedthat more flexible work schedules and the implementationof family-friendly policies may encourage more women intosite-based roles in construction. The paper concludes thatthe rigid work practices presently in place act as a subtleform of discrimination. The provision of such policies willonly be effective if cultural and attitudinal change is alsoachieved.

How to Cite

Lingard, H., & Lin, J. (2012). Managing Motherhood in the Australian Construction Industry: Work-family Balance, Parental Leave and Part-time Work. Construction Economics and Building, 3(2), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.5130/AJCEB.v3i2.2915

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2003): AJCEB

Section

Articles (Peer reviewed)

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Author Biography

Helen Lingard, University of Melbourne

Senior Lecturer

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Helen Lingard, University of Melbourne