A recent survey of working parents found that nearly three-quarters (74%) would look for a new job if they had to commute to work five days a week. This comes from a survey of more than 1,000 hybrid-working parents by the International Workplace Group, highlighting the growing importance of flexible working arrangements.
According to the survey, 83% of parents feel that hybrid work has made them better parents, and 89% say it has made them feel closer to their children. Additionally, 92% report being more involved in their children’s lives, and 86% believe the flexibility of hybrid work has improved the quality of life for their family.
A big factor in increased family happiness is the reduction in long commutes: the survey found that 84% of parents use their shorter commute to spend more time with their children, and 85% try to be more involved in daily parenting.
Hybrid working has also allowed parents to achieve a better work-life balance, with 90% of respondents saying they have more time to spend on family activities. This benefit is particularly noticeable in the mornings, with more time to eat breakfast together (67%), more time to get their children ready for school (54%) and more time to take their children to school (53%).
Additionally, the flexibility of hybrid work allows parents to help with homework (46%), have family dinners (49%) and be present for important milestones like parent-teacher conferences (52%), family birthdays (48%) and school holidays (51%). On average, parents who work hybrid spend five more hours per week with their family, which equates to an extra 260 hours per year, or one hour per day. Nearly a quarter of parents save more than five hours per week.
The survey also found that hybrid working parents save about $7,000 a year on child care costs, with more than half (56%) of parents finding it difficult to access the child care they need to work five days a week in a traditional office setting.
Commenting on the findings, Mark Dixon, CEO of the International Workplace Group, said the shift to hybrid working has significantly changed many people’s lives, noting that increased flexibility has allowed parents to regain much of the family time they’ve lost due to commuting.
Fatima Koning, group chief commercial officer at the International Workplace Group, highlighted how flexibility has become a key factor when parents choose where to work. With parents making up 40% of the workforce, organizations that fail to adapt to a hybrid work model risk falling behind and struggling to attract and retain top talent. Embracing this change can lead to higher employee satisfaction and engagement, Koning added.
