Case study: How employers are putting their family-friendly policies into practice

Totaljobs and the Fawcett Societys report, Paths to parenthood: Uplifting new mothers at work, focuses on the experiences of new mothers transitioning back to work after maternity leave. Find out how to put your family-friendly policies into practice by taking inspiration from leading employers such as Aviva and the Lifetime Training Group.

The second edition in our ‘Paths to parenthood’ series brings forth the experiences of working mothers, specifically when they come back to work from maternity leave.

Our research, in partnership with the Fawcett Society, found that 4 in 5 (84%) mothers face difficulties when they return from maternity leave.

Although 85% of employers have specific policies for employees returning from maternity leave, often the policies don’t translate into on the ground support. As a result

To provide real life examples from employers fostering family-friendly workplaces, we asked Aviva and the Lifetime Training Group how they support new parents – especially mothers – when they return to work from leave.

Aviva: Supporting employees in balancing work and childcare

Every parent recognises the fulfilment as well as the challenges that come with having a new born child. Such a life-changing event shakes things up, and it may take a while for people to make the necessary adjustments to balance work and childcare. We found that 39% of mothers, and 27% of fathers struggle to balance work and childcare commitments when returning to the workplace. Here’s how Aviva supports new parents during this transitional time.

Promoting open communication to create an inclusive workplace culture is another key factor in supporting parents, which not only benefits mothers but your entire workforce. We found that 27% of women felt uncomfortable discussing their parenting needs with their supervisor. This highlights the need to upskill managers in recognising the challenges childcare responsibilities bring, and offer support that works.

Lifetime Group: Embedding flexibility that makes work work for everyone

Our research shows that flexibility is the #1 type of support mothers would like to see, but only 1 in 3 have access to flexible work arrangements. Affordability and accessibility of childcare is a significant challenge mothers face, and a lack of flexibility at work often exacerbates this problem.

Paths to parenthood: Uplifting new mothers at work

In our research, it’s made clear that there’s a strong case to be made for becoming a family-friendly employer to attract and retain talent. 66% of the general UK population, and 72% of mothers view employers who offer family-friendly benefits more positively. However, we found a disconnect between family-friendly policies and on-the-ground support available to parents, specifically to new mothers. The return from maternity leave is a crucial time for women’s careers, yet almost 2 in 5 (39%) mothers struggle with balancing work and childcare during this period. Although most employers (85%) have specific policies to support parents in returning to work, applying them in practice is key to create a family-friendly workplace. We found that 76% of HR leaders face challenges when implementing policies to support with childcare, including a lack of management support for a flexible work culture. Positively, 82% of employers say they want to increase their support for parents. Our report ‘Paths to parenthood: Uplifting new mothers at work’ illustrates the experiences of working mothers and offers practical solutions for employers. Read a summary of our findings below.