The poll of 992 UK parents of children aged 18 and under was commissioned by national charity Working Families and specialist recruitment agency SF Recruitment.
It also found:
- Eight in ten UK parents (82 per cent) would be likely to apply for a role that listed flexible working options.
- Nine in ten unemployed parents in the UK would be likely to apply for a role that listed flexible options in the job advert.
- Over half of working parents (55 per cent) said they would likely consider leaving their job if they found another one that offered more flexible options.
- For all UK parents, flexibility (66 per cent) is second only to pay (73 per cent) in terms of priorities when looking for a new job. However, for mothers, flexibility and pay are tied as the top priority.
- Of those that were polled in work, three in ten said they are in jobs below their skill level because their jobs offer greater flexibility.
The poll also highlighted how some parents are unable to work from home due to the nature of their jobs, suggesting employers think ‘beyond home and hybrid-working.’
In light of the results, a group of 21 employers, including several in the FTSE 100, have come together to write a letter calling on UK employers to advertise all vacant roles with flexible options by default.
'Flexible working is no longer a nice-to-have'
Jane van Zyl, chief executive of Working Families, said, ‘This research demonstrates that flexible working is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have.
'Flexibility is a top priority for parents in the UK, and if employers want to stay competitive, it’s vital that they start to examine the ways that each of their roles can be done flexibly, and advertise them as such.
'Our polling clearly shows that recruiting flexibly has a massive positive impact on talent attraction and retention. And with the current cost-of-living crisis putting so many families into financial jeopardy, offering flexible roles at the point of recruitment opens opportunities to those who have caring responsibilities but who desperately need additional income. Recruiting in this way is good for people and good for business.’
