Marvin OnumonuA report from Randstad, in partnership with Mumsnet, found that 84% of mothers faced gender or motherhood-related discrimination in the workplace.
The study identified that 75% of mothers felt negatively about the impact of having children on their careers.
Despite nine out of 10 mothers prioritising flexibility, 70% reported missing out on promotions due to parental responsibilities, and many highlighted a gap between employer policies and workplace culture, leading to inflexible work hours being a significant reason for leaving jobs.
Victoria Short, CEO of Randstad UK, said: “Employers cannot afford to ignore the realities of working mothers.
“We know flexibility is key to retaining and advancing female talent, yet too often, policies don’t translate into meaningful change.
“Organisations that fail to offer genuine, career-friendly flexibility risk losing a critical segment of their workforce.”
The report examined paternity leave and return-to-work support, showing mothers typically take 10 months of leave compared to fathers’ four weeks.
Only 18% of mothers were happy with their partner’s paternity leave package, and more than 40% of women lost work-related benefits after having children.
The report also revealed that 86% of mothers and 97% of fathers returned to the same employer post-leave.
Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, said: “Mumsnet users repeatedly tell us that flexibility is the single most important factor when it comes to juggling work, childcare and career progression.
“But it’s not just employees who benefit from a culture of flexibility – all of the evidence suggests that flexible working increases productivity and helps with staff retention.
“Companies who take the leap are rewarded with a dedicated, hard-working and loyal workforce.”
