Returning to work with flexible working

Covid-19, and the lockdown which followed, has impacted working mums considerably. Closure of schools and childcare facilities has meant that parents needed to be home during the working day to look after them, and this responsibility has fallen most heavily on mums.

A survey of nearly 20,000 mothers and pregnant women carried out last year showed that 72% of working mothers have had to work fewer hours in the lockdown period because of childcare issues.

As 81% of working mums report needing childcare in order to be able to work, lack of childcare facilities and the lack of flexible working hours for many, has had a huge impact. As lockdown restrictions ease, school and childcare accessibility should improve (although this will be of limited immediate benefit to the number of mums who have been made redundant during the period).

81% of working mums rely on childcare in order to be able to work

​In particular, the lockdown period has demonstrated the viability of flexible working in many office-based jobs - both in terms of timetabling and working from home. Prior to lockdown, many women on our maternity coaching programmes expressed frustration and dismay at the lack of flexible working options available to them. This has led many women to opt for part-time working or to change jobs entirely.

​​It is reported that 44% of UK HR professionals admit to feeling challenged by requests for flexible working and struggle to meet them. Frequently this is because the business itself has not been persuaded of the benefits. Perhaps one positive outcome of the lockdown has been the demonstration that flexible working is viable and can be beneficial to working mums and employers alike.

​For details on our maternity coaching programmes do get in touch - email enquiries@managingchange.org.uk or call us on 01223 655667 or find further details here.