Over a quarter (27%) of working parents in the UK would feel guilty about taking unplanned time off work, or out of their business, to care for their poorly child, according to research by MetLife UK.
The protection and employee benefits provider’s survey of 3,003 working parents with a child or children aged 22 and under also found that 25% of respondents are concerned about the financial impact of unplanned time off, 17% are afraid it would reflect badly on them, and 13% are anxious it would impact future promotions and pay rises. Additionally, 10% think their colleagues would resent them, 9% feared it would result in a written warning or their contract terminated, and 6% worried their employer would enforce a pay cut.
A quarter of those who had no choice but to take unpaid time off to care for their child have had, or would have, to use their savings to get by, while 48% do not have savings in case they need to take unpaid time off work or away from their business.
More than a quarter (27%) said their employer is family oriented and would likely be understanding. When asked about a time when previously their child may have been injured or unwell, 37% said their employer would allow them to leave work immediately, 28% said they could work flexible hours, and 23% could work remotely.
Rich Horner, head of individual protection at MetLife UK, said: “Slips, trips, tumbles and falls are all inevitable when raising children, no matter what age they are. Plus, there’s the additional worry of serious childhood illnesses that also require hospital treatment. It seems that for parents, especially if self-employed or those with less flexibility at work, needing sudden or prolonged periods of time off for childcare can quickly create bigger problems if there aren’t sufficient safety nets in place, and in addition, further guilt towards employees and employers.”
