As working parents prepare for children to go back to school, new research conducted by the hiring platform Indeed reveals that half have had to leave the workforce at some point over the course of their career due to their parental responsibilities.

Indeed’s research also found that 64% of lone parents had struggled to find work due to a lack of flexible working options. More than two thirds also reported having had to call in sick
due to caring demands.

'Key Challenges'

“Our aim with this research was to identify the key challenges faced by both parents and carers – especially as carers now represent a significant and growing proportion of the workforce,"  
said Derek Diviney, Indeed’s Vice President, EMEA (Sales).

"What’s clear from our findings is that employers who provide meaningful supports for both groups — including access to flexible working options — are more attractive to a broader pool of talent and will experience higher levels of employee retention.”

Flexible Working

The research also highlighted the importance parents and carers place on flexible working arrangements — such as remote working, flexible schedules or reduced hours — with 71% of respondents saying that access to flexible working arrangements is important to them. Only 49% said their employer actually offers flexible working, however.

Over 70% of respondents also said that flexible working should be a legal right for parents and carers, while 81% believe that the Government should incentivise employers to offer
more flexible working options.

This follows the coming into force of the right to request a flexible working arrangement for parents and carers in March of this year.