If you constantly find yourself deliberating or conflicted when it comes to establishing a healthy and efficient work-life balance, you’re not alone.

According to a recent survey conducted by RecruitIreland in association with MummyPages, a staggering number of mothers find themselves struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Employment flexibility, financial security and the cost of childcare are the predominant issues for the vast majority of today’s parents ,with 95% of working mothers asserting they would apply for a new job if it allowed them more flexible working hours.

Further to this, almost half of those surveyed maintain a shorter working week is a viable solution for many working mums.

Figures also indicate that the prospect of planning a family can signal significant financial stress for the vast majority of women, with 90% admitting they have sought to secure a new job in order to avail of better family planning benefits.

Those who have availed of full maternity leave assert they struggled financially during this period in their lives, with 90% saying they simply couldn’t afford to live on the State Maternity Benefit alone.

Owing to this, almost half of the mothers surveyed revealed they were not in a position to avail of their 16 weeks entitlement to unpaid leave at the culmination of their 26 weeks paid leave period.

As a result of this, 95% of those surveyed were of the opinion the Government should encourage all employers to increase their maternity benefits.
 


Unsurprisingly, the cost of childcare remains a huge financial burden for many parents, with almost half of the mums surveyed explaining that this issue prevented them from returning to the workplace.

As a result of this, 9 out of 10 mums believe the Government should introduce a childcare tax credit for working parents in the next Budget, with 10% basing their decision as to whether to add to their family on this result.

In addition to these concerns, the survey established that there exists a vast number of other issues when it comes to establishing a healthy work-life balance.

88% of working mums experience some form of ‘mummy guilt’ while 62% acknowledge that their stress levels have risen in work since becoming a mother.

Commenting on these findings, MummyPages' Mum-in-Residence, Laura Haugh, said: “Our mums are struggling financially on maternity leave and emotionally upon their return to work.While some of our mums welcome the mental stimulation and social aspects of returning to work, it simply doesn’t outweigh the huge mummy guilt they feel having to leave their young children in childcare.”

Elaborating further still, she explained: “While the decision to return to work is financially necessary for most of our mums surveyed, the cost of childcare has prevented nearly half of our mums in returning to work. It’s time for the Government to step-up and put proposals into concrete action, the new National Childcare Proposal is a 10-year plan – we need action now.”

Considering the issues, Sinead Johnson, Commercial Manager for RecruitIreland, said: “Flexible working options to include working from home on some days, starting earlier and finishing earlier, working mornings only, moving to a part-time hours or job-sharing can all go a long way to easing the childcare and emotional stress that mums are feeling.”

Highlighting the importance of the demographic, she goes on to say: “Employers should be cognisant that in recruiting the best talent for new roles, mums are an excellent resource pool often overlooked. Small businesses in particular can get quality, experienced mums who can hit the ground running at half the price by employing them on a part-time basis.”

 

For more information about the survey, click on the below image for the full infographic.

 

 

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