Most arts sector workers feel able to discuss their caring responsibilities with a manager, but few are actively asked about these, a survey reveals.
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A quarter of parents and carers working in the arts feel negatively judged because of their caring responsibilities, a survey has suggested. The problem is worst in performing arts companies.
The Family Arts Campaign surveyed 382 arts sector workers about how family-friendly they find their employers. Almost two-thirds of parents and carers (63%) say they have not been asked about their caring responsibilities by a manager. This figure rises to 73% for fathers and male carers – a fact the Family Arts Campaign describes as “truly worrying”.
However, the news is not all bad. Significantly more arts workers see flexible working as available to them than those in other sectors, such as education – 77% compared to 46%. 71% feel happy to discuss their caring responsibilities with their manager, although the figures suggest that the more senior a worker is, the harder they find this conversation: just 52% of chief executives and directors say they feel comfortable discussing their caring responsibilities.
The Family Arts Campaign plans to use the survey to establish a baseline. The report concludes: “As a sector we must actively work towards improving these statistics, focusing on learning from those who do it well both within and outside the arts.” The Family Arts Campaign is planning further activity in response to the survey in the autumn.
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