New research highlights the struggle of manager parents balancing work and family life.
- 72% of managers feel that parenthood has changed their work habits significantly.
- Almost half experience ‘parent-guilt’, impacting their professional and personal lives.
- 54% struggling with parent-guilt feel like they are failing both at home and at work.
- Businesses are urged to address this issue to improve retention and employee well-being.
In a revealing survey by Avilio, it was found that balancing professional duties with familial responsibilities has become a daunting task for half of manager parents. This research engaged 739 managers in the UK, of whom 392 are parents, spotlighting the pervasive challenge of managing both roles effectively.
The study shows that 72% of these managers perceive that having children has drastically altered their work patterns. Many are confronted with ‘parent-guilt’, a sensation stemming from the perceived inability to adequately devote time to their children due to work demands.
Evidence from the survey suggests a disturbing 54% of those grappling with parent-guilt feel they are underperforming both as parents and professionals. This dual pressure significantly affects their overall sense of well-being, and raises questions about the sustainability of their current roles.
Further investigation reveals that 46% of manager parents find their job performance impeded by these feelings, resulting in 44% expressing resentment towards their jobs because it encroaches on family time. This aligns with Philippe Masson’s observation that personal life experiences a profound shift post-parenthood while professional expectations often remain the same or increase, highlighting a substantial disconnect.
The ramifications of this imbalance are profound, leading roughly half of these managers to contemplate resigning. Masson emphasizes the critical need for businesses to recognize and support the unique challenges faced by working parents. Such support could not only improve employee morale and job performance but also enhance talent retention.
Businesses must address the work-life balance struggle of manager parents to ensure wellbeing and retention.
