Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 15 September 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality

Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed)

Dr. Helen Russell:

I am happy to start. The Senator raised many interesting questions. The long-hours culture she referred to in regard to politicians is something that also applies in other roles in the workplace. Having a long-hours culture signals that one is not valuing care. That must be addressed by employers and unions. Having reduced hours is a positive in terms of reconciling the different commitments people have. The problem is that it can be punished. As I mentioned, there is a pay penalty for shorter hours with people earning less per hour. There is also the perception that if people take up those flexible options, they are not as committed to employment and progression. The key thing is having those options across organisations so that it does not stop. We looked at this in the Civil Service. People could have flexibility up to a certain point, but when they became a principal officer, that flexibility disappeared and they were expected to work very long hours. Therefore, that needs to be addressed. In other countries there is not necessarily the same penalty in working part-time hours. It is not universal, and it does not have to be that way.