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Families Count: new section on family work now available

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Families Count 2024 is now available

January 23, 2024

Research Snapshot: Challenges of Non-Standard Work Schedules and Childcare

Summary of a study on the unique challenges of managing non-standard work hours and childcare

January 23, 2024

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Parents with non-standard work hours face additional challenges in securing stable childcare. Such parents are often not able to use standard childcare services for a variety of reasons. These include the high cost and the conflict between their work schedules and the opening hours of childcare services. Thus, they are often left to seek out solutions on their own.

This study focuses on the experiences of 20 parents, mostly mothers, and explores the unique challenges these parents face, the strategies they use, and the impacts on parents, especially mothers, in managing non-standard work hours and childcare.

This research builds on our growing understanding of the Family Work component of the Vanier Institute’s Family Diversities and Wellbeing Framework.

Richardson, B., Prentice, S., & Lero, D. (2023). “I’m kind of in a dilemma”: The challenges of non-standard work schedules and childcare. Community, Work & Family, 26(4), 428–443. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2021.2007048