Full-time hours, part-time work: Questioning the sufficiency of working hours as a measure of employment status

Although distinctions between full-time and part-time work are vital for understanding inequalities at work and home, consensus and critical reflection are lacking in how employment status should be defined. Full-time and part-time work are often represented as a binary split between those working under or over a specific number of hours. However, this paper, using exploratory mixed methods, evidences problems with assumptions based on working-hour thresholds and highlights the importance of workplace culture and household contexts. Using the UK Labour Force Survey we reveal ambiguities in the reporting of employment status for 12% of workers when comparing definitions based on number of working days, working hours and self-assessment. Ambiguities are particularly prevalent among working mothers, with almost a third who would be regarded as working full-time using hour-based measures classified as ambiguous according to the measures used here. In-depth interviews with parents who self-classify as part-time workers despite working over 35 hours a week, reveal mechanisms behind ambiguity within this group linked to organisational norms, previous working hours and divisions of household labour. The paper therefore argues workplace and household contexts are crucial to understanding employment status and recommends this should be taken into account in new multidimensional measures.

Rethinking work-life balance and well-being:the perspectives of fathers

When it comes to work-life balance and its impact on well-being, there have been increasing calls for research which looks at fathers. Until recently, the primary focus of most studies in this area was women and mothers, however changing attitudes towards fathers’ involvement in family life and the introduction of paternity leave have brought men into the picture. This chapter draws together existing research on fathers’ work-life balance and well-being in order to summarise what is currently known, and reveal where further investigation is needed. We begin by looking at men’s experiences of combining employment and family life, focusing in particular on fathers’ preferences and how these compare to their current levels of work-life balance. We observe that attitudes towards work-life balance are complex and there is evidence of ambivalence from fathers about choosing between work and family roles. We further note that a mismatch in desired and actual levels of work-life balance may be associated with emotional strain, stress and ill health. If this is the case, it is important to study fathers’ work-life balance issues in order to safeguard their well-being. Increased understanding of fathers’ needs is necessary to ensure they receive appropriate and adequate support. Furthermore, a better balance between employment and family for fathers is also likely to have a positive impact on the well-being of mothers and children, as well as improving gender equality in the labour market and at home. Finally, we look at research investigating possible reasons for fathers’ mismatches in desired and actual levels of work-life balance. Concepts of masculine identity and unsupportive organisational cultures are the constraints which are most apparent in the literature. Improving work-life balance can be threatening to traditional visions of fathers as providers. This is exacerbated by workplaces which fail to consider men as potential carers with family responsibilities and penalise those who strive for greater work-life balance

RESISTIRE D3.2 - Summary report on mapping quantitative indicators, Cycle 2

This report provides an overview of the second cycle mapping of quantitative indicators, at both national and European levels, that allow us to measure and monitor the economic, social and environmental impacts of COVID-19. National insights are derived from the mapping of Rapid Assessment Surveys (RAS), which are studies undertaken at fast pace to understand the impact of the pandemic. European-level insights come from reviews of the literature and analysis of relevant large-scale European datasets, such as European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) and Eurofound “Living working and COVID-19" e-survey. The report also demonstrates how we are addressing research gaps identified in the first cycle of RESISTIRÉ through ongoing quantitative analysis in collaboration with the authors of 'promising’ mapped RAS and through the development of a mobile application (app)

Focally perfused succinate potentiates brain metabolism in head injury patients.

Following traumatic brain injury, complex cerebral energy perturbations occur. Correlating with unfavourable outcome, high brain extracellular lactate/pyruvate ratio suggests hypoxic metabolism and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. We investigated whether focal administration of succinate, a tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate interacting directly with the mitochondrial electron transport chain, could improve cerebral metabolism. Microdialysis perfused disodium 2,3-13C2 succinate (12 mmol/L) for 24 h into nine sedated traumatic brain injury patients' brains, with simultaneous microdialysate collection for ISCUS analysis of energy metabolism biomarkers (nine patients) and nuclear magnetic resonance of 13C-labelled metabolites (six patients). Metabolites 2,3-13C2 malate and 2,3-13C2 glutamine indicated tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism, and 2,3-13C2 lactate suggested tricarboxylic acid cycle spinout of pyruvate (by malic enzyme or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and pyruvate kinase), then lactate dehydrogenase-mediated conversion to lactate. Versus baseline, succinate perfusion significantly decreased lactate/pyruvate ratio (p = 0.015), mean difference -12%, due to increased pyruvate concentration (+17%); lactate changed little (-3%); concentrations decreased for glutamate (-43%) (p = 0.018) and glucose (-15%) (p = 0.038). Lower lactate/pyruvate ratio suggests better redox status: cytosolic NADH recycled to NAD+ by mitochondrial shuttles (malate-aspartate and/or glycerol 3-phosphate), diminishing lactate dehydrogenase-mediated pyruvate-to-lactate conversion, and lowering glutamate. Glucose decrease suggests improved utilisation. Direct tricarboxylic acid cycle supplementation with 2,3-13C2 succinate improved human traumatic brain injury brain chemistry, indicated by biomarkers and 13C-labelling patterns in metabolites.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Medical Research Council (Grant Nos. G0600986 ID79068 and G1002277 ID98489) and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge (Neuroscience Theme; Brain Injury and Repair Theme). Authors’ support: IJ – Medical Research Council (Grant no. G1002277 ID 98489) and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge; KLHC – National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge (Neuroscience Theme; Brain Injury and Repair Theme); CG – the Canadian Institute of Health Research; AH – Medical Research Council/Royal College of Surgeons of England Clinical Research Training Fellowship (Grant no. G0802251) and Raymond and Beverly Sackler Fellowship; DKM and JDP – National Institute for Health Research Senior Investigator Awards; PJH – National Institute for Health Research Professorship, Academy of Medical Sciences/Health Foundation Senior Surgical Scientist Fellowship and the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge

The effect of succinate on brain NADH/NAD+ redox state and high energy phosphate metabolism in acute traumatic brain injury

A key pathophysiological process and therapeutic target in the critical early post-injury period of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is cell mitochondrial dysfunction; characterised by elevation of brain lactate/pyruvate (L/P) ratio in the absence of hypoxia. We previously showed that succinate can improve brain extracellular chemistry in acute TBI, but it was not clear if this translates to a change in downstream energy metabolism. We studied the effect of microdialysis-delivered succinate on brain energy state (phosphocreatine/ATP ratio (PCr/ATP)) with 31P MRS at 3T, and tissue NADH/NAD+ redox state using microdialysis (L/P ratio) in eight patients with acute major TBI (mean 7 days). Succinate perfusion was associated with increased extracellular pyruvate (+26%, p 0.4, supplemented voxel-vs-contralateral voxel). However, the percentage decrease in L/P ratio for each patient following succinate perfusion correlated significantly with their percentage increase in PCr/ATP ratio (Spearman's rank correlation, r =-0.86, p =0.024). Our findings support the interpretation that L/P ratio is linked to brain energy state, and that succinate may support brain energy metabolism in select TBI patients suffering from mitochondrial dysfunction.MRC Grant No. G1002277 ID98489. MRC Grant No. G0600986 ID79068. MRC, MC_U105663142. Wellcome Trust 110159/Z/15/Z. National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge (Neuroscience Theme; Brain Injury and Repair Theme. Medical Research Council Project code SRAG/071, ID RG87629. Swedish Society for Medical Research. Canadian Institute of Health Research Medical Research Council/Royal College of Surgeons of England Clinical Research Training Fellowship Grant no. G0802251

Can't Share? Won't Share?:Examining work-family decision making processes at the transition to parenthood

Since the advent of parenthood is a catalyst for increasing and long-lasting gender inequalities, this thesis investigates why heterosexual couples adopt traditional, gendered divisions of household labour (or otherwise) at this time. Explanations offered by the work-family literatures raise questions regarding how far couples ‘can’t’ or ‘won’t’ share and much research has explored the drivers of work-family divisions. However, few studies have looked in-depth at how these important decisions are made in practice. Using a quantitative recruitment survey and qualitative interviews with 25 heterosexual couples across the transition to parenthood, this thesis explores how first-time parents in the UK negotiate the division of parental leave, paid work and childcare. In particular, it asks how constraints and ‘preferences’ interact in this process. The thesis makes a key theoretical contribution to explanations for gendered household divisions of paid and unpaid work by demonstrating a reciprocal relationship between work-family preferences and constraints. In keeping with the findings of existing studies, constraints shaped desires - what has been referred to as ‘adaptive preferences’ - but at the same time individuals’ perceptions of and responses to constraint were varied and shaped by their ideals and priorities – something that has so far received less attention in the literature. In light of these findings, the thesis uses a framework of ‘motivation’ and the duality of structure and agency to understand decision making. Underpinning these findings are further contributions to: 1) explanations for lack of active negotiation and discussion among couples; 2) understandings of work-family preferences; and 3) interpretations of survey measures. These findings suggest avenues for improving gender equality at the transition to parenthood and have important implications for policy on parental leave and flexible working

The Re-organisation of Care and Working Lives during the Pandemic: Lived experiences of the COVID-19 policy context in the UK

In this paper, we propose that the reproduction of labour-power, achieved through the expropriation of women’s work at home and in the community, is acutely relevant to the analysis of the consequences of the unfolding COVID-19 crisis. Capitalist structures of exploitation rely heavily on undervaluing women’s and other marginalised peoples’ work, specifically tasks related to social reproduction and care. In this paper, we assess the effects of COVID-19 remedial state policies on the re-organisation of care and working lives during the pandemic within the UK, an example of a neoliberal regime with an individualist approach to responsibility for care. Drawing on data from the European H2020 project RESISTIRÉ (RESpondIng to outbreakS through co-creaTIve inclusive equality stRatEgies), we first assess the policies brought in by the UK government in response to the pandemic from a gender perspective, with a particular focus on the extent to which the work-care nexus has been considered. We then draw on the personal narratives of women in the UK, who were differentially affected by the pandemic, to analyse the lived experiences of this policy context and the challenges faced in ‘reconciling’ paid work and care. These experiences demonstrate that any attempt to effectively respond to and reverse structural inequalities needs to address the dynamic interrelationship of paid and unpaid work, and particularly unpaid care work that women undertake at home and beyond. This is crucial in our attempt to challenge neoliberal capitalist organising, transform societies and build a fairer, more inclusive post-pandemic future

Full-time hours, part-time work: questioning the sufficiency of working hours as a measure of employment status

Although distinctions between full-time and part-time work are vital for understanding inequalities at work and home, consensus and critical reflection are lacking in how employment status should be defined. Full-time and part-time work are often represented as a binary split between those working under or over a specific number of hours. However, this paper, using exploratory mixed methods, evidences problems with assumptions based on working-hour thresholds and highlights the importance of workplace culture and household contexts. Using the UK Labour Force Survey we reveal ambiguities in the reporting of employment status for 12% of workers when comparing definitions based on number of working days, working hours and self-assessment. Ambiguities are particularly prevalent among working mothers with almost a third, who would be regarded as working full-time using hour-based measures, classified as ambiguous according to the measures used here. In-depth interviews with parents who self-classify as part-time workers, despite working over 35 hours a week, reveal mechanisms behind ambiguity within this group linked to organisational norms, previous working hours and divisions of household labour. The paper therefore argues workplace and household contexts are crucial to understanding employment status and recommends this should be taken into account in new multidimensional measures

Focally perfused succinate potentiates brain metabolism in head injury patients.

Following traumatic brain injury, complex cerebral energy perturbations occur. Correlating with unfavourable outcome, high brain extracellular lactate/pyruvate ratio suggests hypoxic metabolism and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. We investigated whether focal administration of succinate, a tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate interacting directly with the mitochondrial electron transport chain, could improve cerebral metabolism. Microdialysis perfused disodium 2,3-13C2 succinate (12 mmol/L) for 24 h into nine sedated traumatic brain injury patients' brains, with simultaneous microdialysate collection for ISCUS analysis of energy metabolism biomarkers (nine patients) and nuclear magnetic resonance of 13C-labelled metabolites (six patients). Metabolites 2,3-13C2 malate and 2,3-13C2 glutamine indicated tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism, and 2,3-13C2 lactate suggested tricarboxylic acid cycle spinout of pyruvate (by malic enzyme or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and pyruvate kinase), then lactate dehydrogenase-mediated conversion to lactate. Versus baseline, succinate perfusion significantly decreased lactate/pyruvate ratio (p = 0.015), mean difference -12%, due to increased pyruvate concentration (+17%); lactate changed little (-3%); concentrations decreased for glutamate (-43%) (p = 0.018) and glucose (-15%) (p = 0.038). Lower lactate/pyruvate ratio suggests better redox status: cytosolic NADH recycled to NAD+ by mitochondrial shuttles (malate-aspartate and/or glycerol 3-phosphate), diminishing lactate dehydrogenase-mediated pyruvate-to-lactate conversion, and lowering glutamate. Glucose decrease suggests improved utilisation. Direct tricarboxylic acid cycle supplementation with 2,3-13C2 succinate improved human traumatic brain injury brain chemistry, indicated by biomarkers and 13C-labelling patterns in metabolites.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Medical Research Council (Grant Nos. G0600986 ID79068 and G1002277 ID98489) and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge (Neuroscience Theme; Brain Injury and Repair Theme). Authors’ support: IJ – Medical Research Council (Grant no. G1002277 ID 98489) and National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge; KLHC – National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge (Neuroscience Theme; Brain Injury and Repair Theme); CG – the Canadian Institute of Health Research; AH – Medical Research Council/Royal College of Surgeons of England Clinical Research Training Fellowship (Grant no. G0802251) and Raymond and Beverly Sackler Fellowship; DKM and JDP – National Institute for Health Research Senior Investigator Awards; PJH – National Institute for Health Research Professorship, Academy of Medical Sciences/Health Foundation Senior Surgical Scientist Fellowship and the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge