Research, engagement and resources

Flexible working

Chung, H, Seo, H, Birkett, H & Forbes, S 2022, 'Working from home and the division of childcare and housework among dual-earner parents during the pandemic in the UK', Merits, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 270-292. https://doi.org/10.3390/merits2040019

Chung, H., Birkett, H., Forbes, S., & Seo, H. (2021). Covid-19, Flexible Working, and Implications for Gender Equality in the United Kingdom. Gender & Society, 35(2), 218-232. (open access)

Parenting policies and working dads

Birkett, H., & Forbes, S. (2019). Where’s dad? Exploring the low take-up of inclusive parenting policies in the UK. Policy Studies, 40(2), 205-224

Flexible working

Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2022). Flexible Working and the Future of Work: Managing Employees Since COVID-19 (Briefing) (PDF)

Birkett, H., Forbes, S., & Jackson, G. (2021). Hybrid Working Beyond COVID-19: Research findings and recommendations for implementing hybrid working (Briefing) (PDF)

Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., Chung, H., & Whiteman, J. (2020). Managing employees during the Covid-19 lockdown: Changing preferences and the future of work (Briefing) (PDF)

Birkett, H., Forbes, S., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2021) Managing employees during COVID-19: Flexible working and the future of work (Phase Two) Executive Summary (Briefing) (PDF)

Parenting policies

Birkett, H. and Forbes, S. (2018) Shared parental leave : Why is take-up so low and what can be done? (Briefing) (PDF) 

Working Dads

Birkett, H. and Forbes, S. (2020) Fathers in the Workplace Toolkit (Briefing) (PDF)

Managers Changing Attitudes to Flexible Working and the Future of Work

Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2022). Flexible Working and the Future of Work: Managing Employees Since COVID-19. Retrieved from Equal Parenting Project, United Kingdom. (PDF) (please contact us if you require an accessible version) 

Birkett, H., Forbes, S., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2021). Managing employees during COVID-19: Flexible Working and the future of work. Retrieved from Flexible Working and the Future of Work (Equal Parenting Project), University of Birmingham: (PDF)

Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., Chung, H., & Whiteman, J. (2020). Managing employees during the COVID-19 pandemic: Flexible working and the future of work. Retrieved from Flexible Working and the Future of Work (Equal Parenting Project), University of Birmingham (PDF)

Parental Leave

Forbes, S., Birkett, H., & Smith, P. (2021). What motivates employers to improve their Shared Parental Leave and pay offers? Retrieved from Government Equalities Office (Cabinet Office), London, UK (internally reviewed 3*)

Employees and Flexible Working During the Pandemic

Chung, H., Seo, H., Forbes, S., & Birkett, H. (2020). Working from home during the COVID-19 lockdown: Changing preferences and the future of work. Retrieved from the Equal Parenting Project, University of Birmingham (PDF)

The Flexible Working and the Future of Work Project aims to promote quality flexible working across all industries in order to support gender equality in the workplace. 

Tools and publications

• Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2022). Flexible Working and the Future of Work: Managing Employees Since COVID-19 (Briefing) (PDF)

• Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2022). Flexible Working and the Future of Work: Managing Employees Since COVID-19. Retrieved from Equal Parenting Project, United Kingdom. (PDF) (please contact us if you require an accessible version)

• Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2022). Flexible Working and the Future of Work: Managing Employees Since COVID-19 (Executive Summary). Retrieved from Equal Parenting Project, United Kingdom. (PDF) 

• Birkett, H., Forbes, S., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2021). Managing employees during COVID-19: Flexible Working and the future of work (Phase Two) (PDF)

• Birkett, H., Forbes, S., Evans, L., & Chung, H. (2021) Managing employees during COVID-19: Flexible working and the future of work (Phase Two) Executive Summary (PDF)  
• Birkett, H. and Forbes, S. (2021). Working Preferences Tool (PDF)
• Birkett, H., Forbes, S., & Jackson, G. (2021). Hybrid Working Beyond COVID-19: Research findings and recommendations for implementing hybrid working. (PDF) 
• Forbes, S., Birkett, H., Evans, L., Chung, H., & Whiteman, J. (2020). Managing employees during the Covid-19 lockdown: Changing preferences and the future of work (PDF)