Women in the Australian public sector have access to flexible work conditions but are not making use of their entitlements, a new report has found.

The CPSU’s annual What Women Want survey, conducted in conjunction with the University of Queensland, was released today to mark 100 years of International Women’s Day.

The survey of 10,000 working women found two in five believed accessing flexible hours or taking leave for family reasons would disadvantage their career.

One in two said juggling work and family life wasn’t easy and one in five respondents said that they were dissatisfied with their work-life balance.

However, the survey also found that six in ten women had the option of improving their work-life balance under current work entitlements.

Of the reasons given for not accessing the leave they were entitled to, respondents cited: they were too busy; current staff levels would not cover their absence; or they had unsupportive supervisors.

CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said women were under increasing pressure at work and home.

“Women in the public sector have fought for and won some reasonable flexible working conditions in their agreements,” she said in a statement.

“However, our survey shows clearly that having a technical right to access leave does not always mean women will get to use it.”
 

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