A third of UK working parents have reduced their working hours due to childcare issues

A third of working parents have had to reduce their working hours due to difficulties accessing childcare.

A poll of 3,000 employed mums and dads of children up to 11 revealed the struggles they face, with 31% requesting flexible working arrangements to balance their responsibilities.

Nearly a quarter rely on their partners or other family members who have already reduced their hours (or quit) to help out with childcare.

However, even despite family support, 46% still say they find it hard to maintain boundaries between their job and homelife. With 75% regularly working overtime as 23% claim it's the only way to manage their workload.

Jane van Zyl, CEO of the charity Working Families, which commissioned the study ahead of National Work Life Week (7th-11th October), said: "Accessing affordable and reliable childcare has become a significant challenge for many families.

"A lot of parents are struggling to balance work and family life due to limited availability, rising costs, and long waiting lists. It's not just an inconvenience - it's a barrier that impacts career opportunities, financial stability, and overall well-being."

Nearly three in 10 (28%) are implementing variable hours, 19% are remote, and 15% work term-time hours only to help with childcare issues. However, a fifth of parents don't have any flexible arrangements in place - with this being most prominent in the transport and logistics sector (42%).

Parents who work in retail (32%), leisure, sport and tourism (30%), and hospitality and events management (29%) are also impacted.

Even though 62% claim their employer cares about their work life balance, 51% have previously refrained from applying for a job because it didn't offer flexibility.

Flexibility in work has become increasingly important for parents as it allows them to manage childcare responsibilities (63%), spend quality time with family (46%), and helps to reduce the overall cost (45%).

Consequently, the survey shows this can also beneficial for employers. As flexible working has led to employees developing new skills (61%), and an increase in loyalty to their employer (73%).

For the six in 10 who currently work in shifts, 27% recieve up to only one weeks' notice of their schedule - making it difficult to organise childcare arrangements.

Jane van Zyl added: "Flexible working is not only a benefit-it's a necessity for today's parents who are juggling work and family life. By offering more adaptable work arrangements, we empower parents to be present for their children while continuing to thrive professionally.

"We'll be paying close attention to the upcoming changes to the Employment Bill expected this week to see how the Government are planning to overcome the challenges working parents are facing through more robust flexible working policies."

Flexible working campaigner and ambassador for Working Families, Anna Whitehouse - also known as Mother Pukka - said: "This is the reality for so many parents - we're stuck in a cycle where childcare is either unaffordable or unavailable, forcing families to make impossible choices.

"Parents are cutting back their hours or missing out on job opportunities just to get by day-to-day. The system, as it stands, doesn't work.

"If we truly want to support families, we need workplaces that make it possible for parents to manage the balancing act of work and childcare, without having to sacrifice their own wellbeing."