04 Mar 2024

Working mothers still carrying parenting load as employer support slips

A survey of 3,000 working parents says 72% of parents feel their employer is less supportive of family

There is a growing disconnection between the support working parents need and the support they currently get from employers, according to Bright Horizons’ 2024 Modern Families Index, which says working mothers are disproportionately affected.

The annual survey of 3,000 working parents shows pressure is mounting on working mothers and support from employers has noticeably fallen in the past 12 months.

Working mothers are affected the most, with 74% saying they carry the mental load for parenting, compared with 48% of working fathers
Working mothers feel less able to progress their careers while working flexibly than working fathers do (63% vs 71%)
Two in three parents take time off due to last-minute childcare arrangements with 49% of parents using annual leave to cover it. Men are more likely to use annual leave (54%) and women are more likely to take unpaid leave (51%)
72% of all parents said their employer is supportive of family, but this has dropped by 5 percentage points since 2023. It has always increased in previous years.

Download the full report to find out more about successful family inclusive strategies for employers.