New research has revealed that working parents are confident in their progression abilities. This is due to the availability of flexible working.
More than half of working parents (67 per cent) have said they are confident they can progress at work. They believe that flexible working will help them achieve this. This is an 11 per cent increase on last year’s data.
The data revealed the progression confidence was especially evident among mothers.
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The research from Bright Horizons revealed that in 2021 over half, 56 per cent, of women said they could work flexibly and be promoted.
New data shows that in 2023, two-thirds (67 per cent) think the two can be attained simultaneously.
The head of thought leadership at Bright Horizons, Jennifer Liston-Smith, said the data was a welcome sign that mothers no longer felt as if they had to put their careers on hold while their children were young.
The research also discovered that the number of working parents that said they were happy not to progress had fallen from 17% to 9%. It was indicating that parents want career progression alongside family life.
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Professionals in HR and flexible working welcomed the increased statistic. They believe that progression among parents is because of the improved utility of flexible working.
Data on flexible working has shown that it increases productivity and reduces absenteeism at work. It’s also great for diversity and inclusion in the workforce, creating effective teams.
It’s hard for parents to work office hours and manage childcare. Usually, one parent must give up their career to achieve this. This was presented in the data.
Due to the pandemic employees and employers have seen the benefits of flexible working. It has become increasingly difficult for employers to deny flexible working requests.
Before the pandemic, it was easier for employers to deny flexible working requests simply because it was not the norm.
Post-pandemic has changed the mindsets of employees and employers. This has allowed for many roles including mothers and parents to be transformed.
Retention has been a main aim for HR professionals and employers in 2023. Flexible working is one way this can help keep people at work.
Liston-Smith agreed: “In a tight labour market, it could be harder to stand out unless employers are going the extra mile with practical support for a family life such as help with care provision, family networks, coaching and similar support.
“It will also be important to continue to grow the trust and autonomy that employees seek in their working arrangements, as flexible working rules also become more progressive.”
Employers Direct offers FREE HR Advice to businesses of all sizes, within any industry in the UK. Our qualified HR advisors are here to offer your business confidential, in-depth, actionable advice on any HR query or issue you may face.
Flexible working is a great option for employers who want to retain and hire the best talent. As seen from the data, parents especially mothers believe flexible working would provide progression and a better family life setup. If you’re considering flexible working but need advice on how to apply this to employees’ contracts, we can help.
We provide free support if you’re an employer and need advice on flexible working. We offer 24/7 assistance to guide you through the process.
Speak to one of our HR and Employment Law advisors free at 0800 144 4050 or click here.
Employers Direct offers FREE HR Advice to businesses of all sizes, within any industry in the UK. Our qualified HR advisors are here to offer your business confidential, in-depth, actionable advice on any HR query or issue you may face.
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Flexible working is when employers give employees a way of working that is better suited to the employee’s needs. Such as working from home.
Yes, employees can request flexible work but must have been working for the employer for at least 26 weeks to be eligible. This might be changing soon to a day one right.
Yes, but there has to be a good business reason to do so.
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