The annual Work+Family Snapshot measuring employee attitudes has been published by Bright Horizons/  

The results from a survey of 1,750 workers show businesses need to change if they want to recruit talent:

• Under 35s place the highest value on family life (56%)
• This age group also has the biggest career aspirations (45%)
• 51% of under 35s continue to re-evaluate career options and employers with family-friendly policies are favoured
• 67% of working parents have resorted to using annual leave to cover childcare when back-up care is used up
• 93% of employees who used back-up care rated their employers as highly supportive of family.

Work+Family Snapshot

For the first time, 18-35s are breaking real boundaries by actively seeking out companies that enable them to put their home lives on an equal footing with building a successful career. There are signs other generations are following suit.

The report also highlights increasing numbers of employees in all age groups have experienced care disruptions. 57% reporting childcare breakdowns lasting five or more days.

Over two thirds said having a back-up care programme in place at work had enabled them to work when they would have otherwise not been able to. However, when subsidised back-up care days run out, 67% have resorted to using annual leave as cover, sacrificing time intended for rest and recuperation.

Encouragingly, over 9 in 10 (93%) employees who used back-up care provision rated their employers as highly supportive of family, creating greater loyalty and less desire to seek new job opportunities.

Bright Horizons says this year’s annual Work+Family Snapshot comes with a warning to companies without family friendly policies in place to urgently rethink their approach and pay close attention to the demands being placed on their employees.

Denise Priest, executive director work and family solutions, commented: “These findings highlight the considerable power shift currently underway in the workplace – a phenomenon many of us will have already experienced. Put simply, employees now expect increasing support and recognition for their life outside the workplace. Now they have the confidence to demand it.

“The statistics send a clear message to employers. Younger people fully expect to blend career ambition with family; this is the new normal.

“The UK’s most progressive businesses are already showing up for their employees by playing a practical role in their home and family life, and providing support that helps them combine both successfully.

“Our data shows businesses cannot afford to be complacent. We have all seen an increasing number of employees looking for new opportunities and a supportive employer will attract them.

“There is strong evidence that workplace nurseries and back-up care provision increase wellbeing, engagement, and productivity. However, once they have used up a back-up care allowance – two-thirds of employees’ resort to using annual leave.

“There is a need for companies to step in, provide cover and also ensure enough allowance to cover all employees’ dependants. This means they aren’t forced to choose between care for children, adults or grandparents when arrangements break down.   

“Additional support that employees value comes in the form of time, skilled advice or help with care-giving responsibilities.”

Work + Families Snapshot survey aims to understand the current and future challenges its employees face as working parents and carers.

To review the full Work + Families Snapshot 2023 report download here.