Parents rejecting careers to save their lives

The 2018 Modern Families Index, published today by work life charity Working Families and Bright Horizons, reveals the stress of the modern workplace is pushing parents to breaking point. According to the study, many parents are obliged to work far over their contracted hours due to increasingly intense workloads or because they feel it is expected of them.

The study found that:

• For nearly two in five parents (39 per cent), work prevents them from being able to say goodnight to their children often or all the time; and for more than two in five parents (42 per cent), work prevents them being able to help their children with their homework;
• More than a quarter of parents (28 per cent) reported that their work leads to arguments with their partner;
• Working overtime was also linked to eating less healthily for 38 per cent of respondents and doing limited exercise for 42 per cent.

Unsurprisingly, working parents are left feeling overwhelmed by the increasing demands of the modern workplace – a third said they feel burnt out all or most of the time, with more than half identifying work as their main cause of burnout. 

The study also found that:

• Of those parents contracted to work 35-36 hours per week, 40 per cent are putting in extra hours – of whom almost a third are putting in an extra seven hours – the equivalent to an extra working day each week;
• Of those parents contracted to work 25 hours per week, a third (34 per cent) are working extra hours. 30 per cent of these are putting in enough hours to qualify as full-time workers, clocking up around 35 hours per week.

These extra hours at work are hours lost to families, and the price tag is high – with full time parents (on 38 hours per week) working extra unpaid hours worth £2,429 on average per year; and part time parents (on 24 hours per week) working extra unpaid hours worth £1,927 on average per year. In households with two full-time working parents, the price tag on extra unpaid hours worked could amount to £4,858 a year. 

The figures paint a worrying picture for parents in the UK with nearly half (47 per cent) of respondents acknowledging that work affects their ability to spend time together as a family.  Britain’s long hours culture is also having a profound impact on personal wellbeing, and is listed as a direct cause of tension at home.

However, parents are taking significant action to address this. When asked, as part of the study, what they have already changed in their working life for family reasons:

• Nearly 1 in 5 (18 per cent) reported they have deliberately stalled their careers;
• More than 1 in 10 (11 per cent) have refused a new job and;
• 1 in 10 have rejected a promotion because of the limited work life balance opportunities.

These figures are similar for mothers and fathers; and are evidence of a ‘parenthood penalty’, with both mothers and fathers deliberately stalling or downshifting their careers and reducing their earnings to protect time spent with family.