{
  "id": 10909567,
  "title": "Forget flexibility. Working parents need predictability",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/forget-flexibility-working-parents-need-predictability",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-30T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91612775/forget-flexibility-working-parents-need-predictability"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For years, experts have asserted that flexibility is the key to success for working parents. They argue in favor of flexible hours, flexible time off, flexible locations, and the ability to work from places like the pediatrician's office or finish presentations after everyone else goes to bed. These arrangements have undeniably made life easier for many families. However, during periods like summer, winter, and spring breaks, predictable chaos sets in as children participate in various activities at different times, or when health issues affect who is available to care for them. This prompted the author to question what working parents truly need. Research suggests that predictability is more crucial than flexibility, according to a 2026 study published in Social Service Review. The study found that unpredictability in work schedules is linked to increased stress and less time spent with children. The researchers analyzed various aspects of work schedules, including length, timing, variability, predictability, and control. All of these factors played a role in parental stress and parenting time. The author emphasizes the importance of control in work schedules. Flexibility can mean leaving work at a specific time to attend a child's event, but it can also mean being called into a Zoom meeting unexpectedly. Both scenarios involve flexibility, but only the latter allows for control over one's schedule. Numerous studies have shown that giving employees control over their schedules can reduce work-family conflict. However, unpredictable schedules can have negative effects on parents of young children. A study from Columbia and Duke researchers found that 87% of surveyed parents experienced unexpected schedule changes over a 30-day period, leading to poorer moods and less sleep. When things are unpredictable, it feels like more work is being done, and every new meeting can disrupt the entire day. The author argues that companies should offer both flexibility and schedule stability. While employees should be able to adjust their schedules for unexpected events, they should also know what their day will look like in advance. This could be achieved by minimizing the number of last-minute meetings and informing employees about potential changes to their hours. The author concludes that a sense of stability might be the antidote to burnout, rather than just flexibility.",
  "summary": "For years, we have believed that flexibility is the key to survival for working parents . We advocate for flexible hours, flexible PTO, flexible locations. And the ability to log on from the pediatrician’s office or finish a presentation after everyone goes to bed has certainly made our lives easier. Then summer hits, or winter break, plus spring break. And your family life becomes a game of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}