%3cdiv+class%3d%22blog_post_content_wrapper+layout_list%22%3e+%0a+%3cdiv%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+You%e2%80%99ve+just+had+the+dreaded+call+from+school.+Your+child+has+a+temperature+and+needs+to+be+picked+up.+You+can+easily+work+from+home%2c+but+your+boss+isn%e2%80%99t+happy+about+it.+But%2c+what+else+can+you+do%3f+As+a+single+parent%2c+the+buck+stops+with+you.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+A+quarter+of+families+in+the+UK+are+headed+up+by+a+single+parent%2c+with+90%25+of+those+being+single+mothers.+Yet+more+often+than+not%2c+their+needs+are+overlooked+by+employers.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cdiv+data-testid%3d%22inarticle-ad%22%3e+%0a+++%3cdiv+data-ad-loc%3d%22mid_center%22+data-ad-region%3d%22main-dynamic%22+data-ad-size%3d%22970x250%2c728x90%2c300x250%2cfluid%22+data-ad-unit%3d%22%2f22888152279%2fus%2fyfin%2fros%2fdt%2fus_yfin_ros_dt_mid_center%22+data-testid%3d%22ad-container%22%3e+%0a+++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+According+to+a+survey+by+Single+Parent+Rights+%2c+81%25+of+single+parents+want+their+employers+to+better+understand+the+challenges+they+face+and+87%25+need+more+flexibility.+Alarmingly%2c+35%25+of+full-time+employed+single+parents+were+working+below+their+skill+level+due+to+a+lack+of+flexible+work+and+lack+of+affordable+childcare+.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cMost+employers+still+have+a+traditional+two-person+household+in+mind+when+they+think+about+the+working+parents+in+their+workforce%2c+which+can+lead+to+policies+where+the+challenges+of+single+parents+are+overlooked%2c%e2%80%9d+says+Katie+Guild%2c+co-founder+of+Nugget+Savings+%2c+a+platform+that+campaigns+for+parental+leave+transparency+and+helps+people+financially+plan+for+parenthood.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cdiv+data-testid%3d%22inarticle-ad%22%3e+%0a+++%3cdiv+data-ad-loc%3d%22mid_center_2%22+data-ad-region%3d%22main-dynamic%22+data-ad-size%3d%22970x250%2c728x90%2c300x250%22+data-ad-unit%3d%22%2f22888152279%2fus%2fyfin%2fros%2fdt%2fus_yfin_ros_dt_mid_center%22+data-testid%3d%22ad-container%22%3e+%0a+++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Although+flexible+working+became+the+norm+during+the+Covid-19+lockdowns%2c+many+employers+are+gradually+back-peddling+on+flexible+policies.+In+2023+%2c+jobs+advertised+with+flexible+working+terms+drop+to+5.4%25%2c+the+lowest+they%e2%80%99ve+been+since+2020.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%3cstrong%3e+Read+more%3a+%3c%2fstrong%3e+The+problem+with+forcing+employees+to+list+workplace+achievements+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Some+of+the+biggest+companies+in+the+world+%e2%80%94+Apple+(+AAPL+)%2c+Amazon+(+AMZN+)%2c+Disney+(+DIS+)%2c+Google+(+GOOG+)%2c+Zoom+(+ZM+)%2c+and+Meta+(+META+)%2c+to+name+but+a+few+%e2%80%94+have+mandated+that+employees+return+to+the+office+.+Reasons+include+%26quot%3bboosting+productivity%26quot%3b+and+%26quot%3bincreasing+collaboration%26quot%3b%2c+but+the+corporate+crackdown+is+pushing+single+parents+out+of+work+or+into+lower-paying%2c+less+fulfilling+roles.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cdiv+data-testid%3d%22inarticle-ad%22%3e+%0a+++%3cdiv+data-ad-loc%3d%22mid_center_3%22+data-ad-region%3d%22main-dynamic%22+data-ad-size%3d%22970x250%2c728x90%2c300x250%22+data-ad-unit%3d%22%2f22888152279%2fus%2fyfin%2fros%2fdt%2fus_yfin_ros_dt_mid_center%22+data-testid%3d%22ad-container%22%3e+%0a+++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cOften%2c+there+is+an+assumption+that+there+is+%27someone+else%27+to+manage+the+childcare%2c%e2%80%9d+says+Guild.+%e2%80%9cFor+single+parents%2c+when+their+wage+drops+to+statutory+maternity+pay+or+the+unpaid+portion+of+maternity+leave%2c+there+is+no-one+to+pick+up+that+financial+slack.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cThey+have+to+take+on+roles+because+of+their+flexibility%2c+not+because+they+align+with+their+career+goals+or+indeed+skills%2c+which+can+hinder+career+progression%2c+productivity+and+wage+potential%2c%e2%80%9d+she+adds.+%e2%80%9cThe+cost+of+childcare+is+also+exorbitant+for+single+parents%2c+and+the+government+childcare+schemes+punish+high+earning+single+parents+more+than+two+parent+households.%e2%80%9d+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Single+parents+also+face+stigma%2c+which+can+lead+to+them+being+unfairly+branded+as+unreliable+or+less+committed+than+working+parents+who+are+in+couples.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a+%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a+%3cdiv+data-testid%3d%22read-more%22%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Louise+Webster%2c+founder+of+Beyond+the+School+Run+%2c+a+platform+connecting+mothers+with+their+skills+and+talents%2c+adds+that+empathy+is+also+essential.+It%e2%80%99s+a+fact+of+life+that+kids+pick+up+a+plethora+of+viruses+at+childcare%2c+so+employers+need+to+be+understanding+if+a+parent+has+to+pick+them+up+%e2%80%94+or+becomes+unwell+more+frequently+themselves.+%e2%80%9cCreating+a+workplace+culture+that+acknowledges+these+realities+fosters+loyalty+and+productivity%2c%e2%80%9d+says+Webster.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cfigure%3e+%0a++%3c%2ffigure%3e+%0a++%3ch2%3e+What+can+employers+do+to+support+working+single+parents%3f+%3c%2fh2%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Firstly%2c+it%e2%80%99s+essential+to+acknowledge+and+understand+the+systemic+issues+they+face%2c+says+Emily+Trant%2c+chief+impact+officer+at+Wagestream+%2c+a+financial+wellbeing+app.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cThere+is+a+persistent%2c+outdated+view+that+childcare+and+family+responsibilities+are+women%e2%80%99s+responsibilities%2c+and+therefore+not+a+business+concern%2c%e2%80%9d+she+says.+%e2%80%9cThere%e2%80%99s+also+a+lack+of+understanding+of+the+sheer+complexity+of+managing+work+and+solo+parenting.%e2%80%9d+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cdiv+data-testid%3d%22inarticle-ad%22%3e+%0a+++%3cdiv+data-ad-loc%3d%22mid_center_4%22+data-ad-region%3d%22main-dynamic%22+data-ad-size%3d%22970x250%2c728x90%2c300x250%22+data-ad-unit%3d%22%2f22888152279%2fus%2fyfin%2fros%2fdt%2fus_yfin_ros_dt_mid_center%22+data-testid%3d%22ad-container%22%3e+%0a+++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Rather+than+a+one-size-fits-all+approach+to+support%2c+employers+need+to+offer+truly+flexible+options+that+go+beyond+working+from+home.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Workplace+structures+have+historically+been+designed+around+full-time+working+hours%2c+but+part-time+roles%2c+job+shares+and+compressed+hours+can+pay+off+for+everyone.+Workers+access+flexibility+and+opportunities+for+career+progression+and+higher-paid+work%2c+while+employers+benefit+from+a+more+diverse+workforce%2c+better+retention+of+talented+staff+and+ultimately%2c+a+stronger+bottom+line.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cdiv+data-testid%3d%22inarticle-ad%22%3e+%0a+++%3cdiv+data-ad-loc%3d%22mid_center_5%22+data-ad-region%3d%22main-dynamic%22+data-ad-size%3d%22970x250%2c728x90%2c300x250%22+data-ad-unit%3d%22%2f22888152279%2fus%2fyfin%2fros%2fdt%2fus_yfin_ros_dt_mid_center%22+data-testid%3d%22ad-container%22%3e+%0a+++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%3cstrong%3e+Read+more%3a+%3c%2fstrong%3e+Does+AI+mean+less+pay+for+workers%3f+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cEmployers+could+also+give+workers+more+autonomy+over+scheduling+and+allow+employees+to+manage+their+own+shifts+and+work+around+their+family+needs%2c%e2%80%9d+says+Trant.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cThey+need+to+avoid+demanding+instant+availability+and+consider+the+real-life+constraints+of+single+parents.+Additionally%2c+cross-training+employees+can+provide+opportunities+for+skill+development+to+enable+flexible+roles.%e2%80%9d+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+Single+parents+have+less+financial+and+practical+flexibility+than+couple+parents%2c+so+offering+paid+leave+for+child+illnesses+and+emergencies+can+be+a+huge+help.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cdiv+data-testid%3d%22inarticle-ad%22%3e+%0a+++%3cdiv+data-ad-loc%3d%22mid_center_6%22+data-ad-region%3d%22main-dynamic%22+data-ad-size%3d%22970x250%2c728x90%2c300x250%22+data-ad-unit%3d%22%2f22888152279%2fus%2fyfin%2fros%2fdt%2fus_yfin_ros_dt_mid_center%22+data-testid%3d%22ad-container%22%3e+%0a+++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cSupport+networks+also+play+a+vital+role%2c%e2%80%9d+says+Webster.+%e2%80%9cThe+saying+%e2%80%98it+takes+a+village+to+raise+a+child%e2%80%99+is+even+more+relevant+for+single+parents.+Employers+can+help+by+providing+access+to+childcare+options%2c+internal+support+networks%2c+and+peer+communities+where+parents+can+share+insights+and+advice.%e2%80%9d+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+And+as+children+grow+and+parents+gain+more+free+time%2c+employers+who+support+parent-friendly+policies+stand+to+benefit.+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%e2%80%9cEmployers+that+prioritise+these+initiatives+will+not+only+retain+valuable+talent+but+also+tap+into+the+potential+of+a+highly+motivated+and+productive+workforce%2c%e2%80%9d+says+Trant.+%e2%80%9cThis+isn%27t+merely+about+social+responsibility+%e2%80%94+it%e2%80%99s+a+smart+business+strategy.%e2%80%9d+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%3cstrong%3e+Read+more%3a+%3c%2fstrong%3e+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a++%3cp%3e+%3cstrong%3e+%3c%2fstrong%3e+Apple+%3cstrong%3e+%3cem%3e+and+%3c%2fem%3e+%3c%2fstrong%3e+Android+%3cstrong%3e+%3cem%3e+.+%3c%2fem%3e+%3c%2fstrong%3e+%3c%2fp%3e+%0a+%3c%2fdiv%3e+%0a%3c%2fdiv%3e