Title
Contents
Acknowledgements 7
The Authors 8
Summary 9
1. Introduction 17
1.1 Background 17
1.2 Policy context 18
1.3 Employment sustainability and well-being in work 20
1.4 The 'family-work project' 23
1.5 Research aims and objectives 24
1.6 Methodology 24
1.7 The sample 26
1.8 Report structure 29
2. Employment sustainability - the role of the Government 31
2.1 Summary of key points 31
2.2 Tax credits and in-work support 32
2.2.1 Difficulties with the tax credit system 35
2.3 Personal Advisers and seeking advice 39
2.3.1 Unemployed mothers and PAs 41
2.4 Child support 43
2.4.1 Unemployment and child support 44
2.5 Childcare 44
3. Employment sustainability - the role of family and personal well-being 47
3.1 Summary of key points 47
3.2 Working family life 48
3.2.1 Working family life - the role of extended family 48
3.2.2 Working family life - the role of children 53
3.2.3 Working family life - the role of new partners 54
3.2.4 Working family life - the role of non-resident fathers 55
3.3 Working family life - the role of friends 56
3.4 Health and well-being 56
3.4.1 Stress and depression 57
4. Employment sustainability - employers, workplace relationships and advancement 61
4.1 Summary of key points 61
4.2 Stability and flexibility in employment 62
4.2.1 Employment change over time 62
4.2.2 Reasons for employment change - childcare needs 63
4.2.3 Reasons for employment change - increasing income or accommodating change at home 64
4.2.4 Security and insecurity in employment 65
4.2.5 Flexibility in employment 67
4.3 Relationships in the work place 68
4.4 Advancement 69
5. The views of the children and young people 71
5.1 Summary of key points 71
5.2 The children's sample 72
5.3 Children's perspectives on their mother's employment 72
5.3.1 At the third interview 73
5.4 The benefits of employment identified by children and young people 74
5.4.1 Increased participation in school 74
5.4.2 Improved status 76
5.5 The costs of employment identified by children and young people 76
5.5.1 Concerns about income 77
5.5.2 Concerns about time 77
5.5.3/5.5.1 Working hours and childcare 79
5.6 Children's perceptions of the impact of work on their mothers' lives 82
5.6.1 Concerns about health 82
5.7 The experiences of children whose mothers were not in employment 83
6. Work and financial well-being 85
6.1 Summary of key points 85
6.2 Reward - feeling better off in work? 86
6.2.1 Better off being in work or staying out of work? 86
6.2.2 Better off since the last interview? 88
6.3 Financial well-being and the effects of financial insecurity and debt 89
6.3.1 Debt and debt generation 90
6.3.2 Bankruptcy and debt recovery 93
6.4 Reflections: what works in 'working family' life? 94
6.4.1 Should lone mothers be in work? 94
6.4.2 How many hours of work? 95
6.4.3 Mother's views on policies and support 97
7. Discussion and final reflections 101
7.1 Sustaining employment: key findings 101
7.1.1 Continuity and change in working family life 101
7.1.2 The role of Government in sustaining employment 102
7.1.3 Tax credits play a key role in sustaining mothers in employment 103
7.1.4 Seeking support and advice 103
7.1.5 Child Support - potentially a valuable addition to household income 104
7.1.6 Childcare 104
7.2 The role of family and friends in sustaining employment 105
7.2.1 Drawing on family support - the role of family and relatives 105
7.2.2 Friends 106
7.2.3 Staying well - the health and well-being of working mothers 106
7.3 The role of employment factors in sustaining work 106
7.3.1 Employment conditions - managing change 107
7.3.2 Advancement 107
7.4 The views of the children and young people 108
7.4.1 The benefits of employment 108
7.4.2 The costs of employment 109
7.4.3 Working hours and childcare 109
7.4.4 The experiences of children whose mothers were unemployed 110
7.5 Work and financial well-being 110
7.5.1 Financial security and debt 110
7.5.2 Looking back - mother's and children's reflections on what works 111
7.6 The challenges and rewards of sustaining employment over time 112
7.7 Policy considerations 113
7.7.1 Securing income 113
7.7.2 Administrative measures 115
7.8 Final reflections - continuity and change 116
References 119
Table 1.1 Interviewed sample at three stages 26
Table 1.2 Mothers at waves 1 and 3 27
Table 2.1 Receipt of tax credits, benefits and child support at each wave 33
Table 3.1 Significant periods of ill-health, long-term sickness and disability 57
Boxes
Box 1.1 ERA demonstration project 19