The majority of working parents believe that UK businesses do do enough to accommodate and support their needs, according to a study by jobs board CV-Library.
Ahead of Working Parents Day, which takes place on 16 September, the job site conducted research amongst over 2,000 UK professionals to ascertain attitudes around maintaining a career alongside a having a family.
It found that nearly half (48.1%) of workers in the UK are parents, with a further 23% planning to have children in the next five years. Just under 62% (including those who do not have children) believe their employer does enough to support working parents, with that figure rising slightly to more than 63% of working parents.
CV-Library said that more than three-quarters of those surveyed do not feel that they have to build a strong foundation in their work before starting a family. And just over 60% of working parents feel that their career prospects have not been harmed as a result of having children. Interestingly more than a third of those who are planning on having children are worried that their career will suffer as a result.
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, said: “It is fantastic to see that British businesses are doing what they can to support working-parents, which is helping to change perceptions. The fact that UK professionals have such a positive attitude towards being able to start a family whilst still maintaining a good career is reassuring. We no longer live in an age where people have to choose between a career or a family and support from our businesses is essential to ensure this shift in attitude continues.”
