Men at work

When men choose to work in childcare, where they are outnumbered 99-1 by women, they are hailed as good role models for the children. But are their female colleagues as welcoming and helpful as they should be to this minority group?

According to the study Men in the Nursery, by the Thomas Coram Research Unit at London University's Institute of Education, men found their managers and staff teams supportive but they felt isolated and excluded from the 'women's talk' in the staffroom.

The researchers also found the women were often unaware they were treating their male co-workers differently. For example, the women surveyed believed the jobs were shared out equally, while the men were adamant they were asked to carry out different tasks such as fixing things and changing light bulbs.

Sylvia Archer, co-owner of the Children's House, Stallingborough, near Grimsby, did original research into men in childcare when she managed a chain of nurseries and was studying for her Masters Degree.

'The research involved interviewing every single member of staff to find out why it was difficult for men to work in childcare. The interesting thing that came out of it was that a lot of the women who had moved into childcare had done so as an extension of their parenting role. They were confident about looking after children, but the outcome was that these women were making it difficult for men because they saw them as a threat to their power base, so they were not welcoming men into the nursery culture and environment.'

She found that a man who had joined the team expecting to be drawn into a friendly, family atmosphere tended to be left out. 'The women staff made great play of the huge generalisation that men focus on one task at a time, when in childcare one has to balance many different balls at once. They used to complain that their male colleague spent a great deal of time concentrating on one task and was seemingly oblivious to everything going on around him.'

She adds that it can be hard for men to pursue a vocation in childcare because it is not seen as man's work by parents or other practitioners. 'This area of the country is dominated by a traditional fishing port and there is a strong male stereotype. Childcare is seen as girls' work, and if a young man was interested in this type of work he would perhaps be seen as somehow less of a man.'

Men are employed in a range of roles at the Pocklington Montessori School near York. Proprietor Rosie Pressland says, 'When someone joins we have a welcoming ceremony and the newcomer is introduced to everyone. We recognise that what men bring may be different, but in those differences there are advantages.'

There are ten men in the school. Some are specialist teachers in charge of areas such as music, sports and swimming, while two men of retirement age take playground duties. 'Our staff are open to change and new opportunities. Our internet company is based at the school and one of the young men has moved in with one of our teachers. We are all wondering if we should be buying hats for the wedding. Joking aside, I've told the couple that no matter what happens to their relationship they are valued as individuals.'

Paul Brown, manager of the Bursar Pre-School, Cleethorpes, started attending the pre-school's parent and toddler group with his son when he was getting divorced. 'The staff and other parents said I would be good working with children, so I went on the courses and here I am. I was deputy manager and became manager two years ago. I would never have thought of this as a job for me as I'd always worked in factories.

'The PLA are always ringing to say there is a course and another male is going on it and will I go to keep him company. Then the other man drops out and I do the course. I think some men give up because of the money or because they are scared of the women.

'As a man in this job you have to try more. You have to make sure you are very welcoming and speak to the parents one to one. Some of the single parents think it is good to have a man in the pre-school because their children haven't got fathers at home.

'I have had people thinking I am gay because I am working in a playgroup. They think there must be a sexual thing if a male is working in a playgroup. But when they know me and see I am wearing a wedding ring, they know I am not gay.

'Some of the students here on placements are a bit wary of me at first, but I get on really well with the staff. We all go out on special nights.' NW

WELCOMING MEN INTO YOUR WORKFORCE

* Operate an effective equal opportunities policy.

* Value the differences that people bring to your organisation and regard them as advantages.

* Run an induction procedure for all new employees, which involves explaining how the organisation works, listing the newcomer's responsibilities and introducing them to their new colleagues, the parents and children.

* Be open with your employees and make them feel valued, both as individuals and as part of the team.

* Conversely, make it clear that the management does not tolerate bullying or even teasing to the extent that an individual is mocked. Actively discourage staff from forming little cliques, if need be, by re-organising teams.

* Promote team building through staff training workshops and after-work outings.

* Allocate jobs and tasks according to an individual's interests and abilities, not gender. Do not assume all men like playing football or women cannot put out the rubbish.

* Do not just pay lip-service to running a friendly, inclusive organisation. Find out if your philosophy is working in practice by gaining employee feedback through your appraisal system. If they highlight some unpalatable truths about the management and culture of the organisation, put matters right.