Working parents are deliberately stalling or downshifting their careers to reverse the negative impact work is having on family life.
The findings outlined in the 2018 Modern Families Index, compiled by work-life charity Working Families and Bright Horizons, revealed that many parents are obliged to work beyond their contracted hours due to increasingly intense workloads or because they feel it is expected.
The study found that, of those parents contracted to work 35-36 hours a week, 40 per cent are putting in extra time. A similar figure was found among those contracted to work 25 hours a week, with a third working beyond their normal hours.
It is estimated that, not only are families missing out on time together, but full-time parents (on 38 hours per week) are working extra hours’ worth an average of £2,429 a year.
Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families, warned that the norm of long hours is putting parents at a disadvantage, and with 11 million working parents, the economy could ill-afford this ‘parenthood penalty’.
‘We need a more widespread, genuinely flexible approach to work. But on its own, flexible working is not enough if all it delivers is the flexibility to manage a bumper workload,’ said Jackson. ‘We need human-sized jobs that allows parents to fulfil their labour market potential and give families back the time together they need to thrive. This should be central to the government’s forthcoming review of its right to request flexible working legislation.’
The study also revealed that nearly one in five parents reported they have deliberately stalled their careers; while 11 per cent have refused a new job and one in 10 have rejected a promotion because of the limited work-life balance opportunities.
‘We have seen fantastic examples of leading employers already addressing this important issue, however for those yet to do so we urge them to take action sooner rather than later,’ commented James Tugendhat, Managing Director, International at Bright Horizons. ‘Families must see these in practice and embedded at all levels to feel confident in creating a work-life balance that truly works for them.’
