Almost one in five fathers who work from home would resign if they were forced to return to their office full time, new research from King's College London suggests. The survey of more than 8,200 working fathers revealed that around 17% who currently work from home would quit if mandated back to the office full-time.
Fathers want more flexibility than employers offer
Fathers desire at least two working-from-home days a week, twice as much as their employer currently allows, according to the report. Despite flexible working policies on paper, workplace cultures, visibility expectations, and assumptions about commitment still make it difficult for fathers to use such arrangements in practice.
Home workers rated lower for promotion
The study found that those who work from home are rated less favourably for promotion by managers, especially if they are a father. This bias persists even when performance is equal to office-based colleagues.
Redefining masculinity and family roles
Professor Heejung Chung, co-author of the report, said: “Flexible working was never a mothers’ issue. It’s time we stopped treating it like one. Post-pandemic fathers have discovered something their own fathers never had: the school run, dinner time, the chance to actually be there supporting family well-being and financial stabilities. What is more, when men are involved, not only do their ideas of what it means to be a man changes but so do their children’s. A generation is growing up with a different idea of masculinity. Remote work isn’t just reshaping offices, it’s reshaping families and the future of gender roles.”
Impact on workplace and society
The findings highlight a growing tension between employer expectations and employee desires for flexible work. With a significant portion of fathers willing to resign over inflexible mandates, companies may face retention challenges if they enforce strict return-to-office policies. The shift also carries broader social implications, potentially altering traditional gender roles and family dynamics as fathers become more involved in daily childcare and household responsibilities.
