Two-fifths (42%) of working parents admitted to looking for alternative work in 2024 with higher pay and better family life support, an increase of four percentage points on 2023, according to research by childcare provider Bright Horizons.
Its annual Modern families index, which surveyed more than 3,000 working families, found that the number of employees who feel their employer is supportive of family life has dropped, from 77% last year to 72% this year.
Three in 10 respondents have sought help with childcare costs, and nearly four in 10 with the cost of living from their employer. A total of 80% of women and 76% of men would need to carefully consider their childcare options before taking on a promotion or a new job.
Two-thirds have taken time off due to last-minute childcare arrangements, with 49% using annual leave to cover this and 67% taking an average of four days off at short notice in the last 12 months. Approximately a third (32%) of those who reported this type of absence needed to take five or more days.
Almost three-quarters (74%) of working mothers admitted to carrying the mental load for parenting, compared to 48% of working fathers. They also felt less able to progress their careers while working flexibly than working fathers, cited by 63% and 71% respectively.
Jennifer Liston-Smith, head of thought leadership at Bright Horizons, said: “Employers continue to face significant retention and recruitment challenges; retaining working parents and carers has to be a key focus to alleviate these and supporting their mental health and ability to perform at work should be at the heart of employers’ strategy.
“With higher living costs and more employers urging employees back to the workplace, employers need to be moving forwards, not backwards in enabling employees to combine their career with family life. The imbalances in expectation and reality need to be addressed and employers need to be supporting employees from all angles.”