Consequences of Flexibility Stigma Among Academic Scientists and Engineers

Abstract

Flexibility stigma, the devaluation of workers who seek or are presumed to need flexible work arrangements, fosters a mismatch between workplace demands and the needs of professionals. The authors survey ﾓideal workersﾔﾗscience, technology, engineering, and math faculty at a top research universityﾗto determine the consequences of working in an environment with flexibility stigma. Those who report this stigma have lower intentions to persist, worse workﾖlife balance, and lower job satisfaction. These consequences are net of gender and parenthood, suggesting that flexibility stigma fosters a problematic environment for many faculty, even those not personally at risk of stigmatization.