It takes 4 months to adjust after parental leave, as mums & dads would would work 80% of hours for full pay, data shows

IT takes parents four months to settle back into the workplace after returning from parental leave, according to a study.

The poll of 1,000 working mums and dads with children under five found 59 per cent were worried about returning to work over fears of missing out on key moments in their child’s life.

While 89 per cent even considered not going back at all – with 53 per cent wanting to avoid missing certain milestones such as first steps or words.

It also emerged 59 per cent were nervous about the prospect of having to juggle work and parenting, while 39 per cent were unsure how they would cope with the transition.

The study was commissioned by Vodafone, which offers any employee returning from parental leave the option to work 80 per cent of their hours for 100 per cent of pay, benefits and holiday for the first six months back at work as part of its family-related leave policy.

It revealed 77 per cent of parents surveyed weren’t even aware of policies like this, but 91 per cent would take advantage of it if offered at their workplace.

More than £10 billion could be pumped into the economy and 440,000 parents could return to the workforce if these policies were made available more widely, according to economic modelling.

Michelle Kennedy, CEO of online parenting community, Peanut, which is joining forces with Vodafone to urge UK businesses to rethink their workplace policies, said: “Returning to work after parental leave is one of the hardest transitions parents have to make.

“They are expected to just snap back – to their job, career ambitions and the people they were before – when in reality, everything has changed.

“The support to make this transition easier is still rare – that's why policies such as Vodafone’s 80/20 matter.

“Parents bring immense value to the workplace, and as the study shows, essential skills don't disappear when you have a baby; they sharpen.

“When you support parents properly, everyone wins – families, businesses, and the economy alike.”;

The research also found that upon their return to work, 42 per cent struggled to manage timings and logistics of things, such as nursery pickups, arranging childcare, and having to work late.

As a result, 77 per cent felt ‘burnt out’ upon their return, with the average working parent feeling this way after just four weeks – showing just how important it is for employers to support parents in the first few months back at work.

TheOnePoll.comdata also highlighted the ‘parent penalty’, as 45 per cent stopped themselves from applying for new roles after having a child – because they didn’t offer the support they needed.

It’s apparent this is vital for parents as 78 per cent said flexible working leads to a better work-life balance, and 68 per cent see an improvement in their mental wellbeing.

When it comes to the strengths they bring to the workplace, 43 per cent said multi-tasking is one of the ‘parenting skills’ that is most applicable to their job.

With patience (36 per cent), problem solving (22 per cent), and empathy (20 per cent) also among the top transferrable skills.

Nicki Lyons, chief corporate affairs & sustainability officer, Vodafone UK, said: “Better productivity, improved time management, increased ability to multitask – our study shows just some of the skills working parents bring to an organisation.

“But businesses have a responsibility to ensure the right support is in place for parents returning to work.”