Dads 'neglect their children but won't swap jobs'

One in four British fathers admitted that they had neglected their children recently but many would not trade career prospects for more time with their family, according to a new survey today.

A poll of 500 working dads in Britain showed that a third agreed their job seriously interfered with their private life and most worked at weekends.

But two out of five would not trade career progression for more time with their family.

Matthew Gwyther, editor of Britain's Management Today, which conducted the research, with BT and the Work Foundation, said: “Modern dads are in a dilemma – they understand the importance of spending time with their families and want to contribute on the domestic front.

“But at the same time men derive an immense amount of satisfaction from their jobs and in quite a traditional way continue to define their sense of accomplishment through their work.”

Most of those surveyed said they felt more guilt about neglecting domestic duties than their fathers did.

The poll showed a difference in attitude towards new British legislation next month giving the parents of young children the right to ask for flexible work options.

More than half of those under the age of 35 believed the policy did not go far enough, while over 55-year-olds said the law had gone too far.