Nursery World - Coronavirus: Parents want fewer days in the office but struggle without childcare in pandemic

Lockdown has led almost half of working parents to consider requesting more flexible working arrangements but parents strongly recognise that they need childcare support in order to work effectively, research by Bright Horizons Work+Family Solutions has found.

The resounding message from the 1,500, predominantly office-based, parents surveyed during May and June is that they are finding it increasingly difficult as the pandemic continues to look after their children while working from home. The word ‘juggling’ was used more than 150 times by those making comments in the survey.

Almost half (48 per cent) of pre-Covid fully office-based employees are considering asking for some more remote or agile working. More than half (55 per cent) of all respondents would choose to spend no more than three days at their place of work, with the rest done remotely.

Families approached lockdown childcare in different ways with some taking it in ‘shifts’ to work or provide childcare. While some reported a ‘Pandemic spirit’ of being ‘happy and cheerful’ others admitted to not coping. One said, ‘I am failing to give 100 per cent to any part of my life.’

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