Global Working Parents Report

Hong Kong working parents analysis 

Remote’s survey of 1,002 working parents in Hong Kong highlights the significant need for flexible work arrangements to balance professional and parental responsibilities. The report reveals that flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid or remote work, are highly valued by Hong Kong working parents, even more than job prospects or a 10% pay increase. Key findings include: 

Support for flexible work
A substantial 86% of working parents agree that fully remote work benefits their mental health the most, while 74% believe that hybrid work arrangements also have a positive impact. However, nearly 87% feel they are offered fake flexibility despite their workplaces implementing flexible work policies.

More than 43% of working parents feel anxious that requesting flexible work arrangements could lead to job loss, underscoring the need for better implementation and acceptance of flexible work policies by employers.

Challenges in implementation:
Despite 42.1% of respondents stating their employers have implemented flexible working arrangements, 88.9% feel overlooked for promotions or other opportunities due to being working parents. Additionally, 87.6% have considered quitting their jobs due to the lack of affordable childcare options during working hours.

Impact on job decisions:
The financial and emotional burdens of childcare are evident, with 88.8% of respondents saying they have had to take a pay cut or reduce working hours because of the lack of affordable childcare options. Furthermore, 87% of working parents feel guilty and anxious when requesting time off to care for their children.

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Belgium working parents analysis 

Belgian working parents are increasingly looking for flexible work arrangements, yet in our survey, they said companies are slow to accommodate these needs. As many firms in Belgium seek new talent to expand their workforce, the lack of support for remote work remains a factor. 

According to Remote’s survey of 617 Belgian working parents, 71% would consider leaving their job if remote work options became stricter. This highlights the pressing need for more adaptable work policies to help parents balance their professional and family responsibilities.

The survey sheds light on the financial and logistical burdens faced by Belgian parents. On average, they spend around 700 euros per week on childcare costs, which include daycare, transportation, and babysitting. This figure is notably higher than in other countries, such as nearby France, where the average is 492 euros per week. 

Key findings include:

• Impact of return-to-office policies: 73% of parents have considered quitting their job or encouraged their partner to do so due to the pressures of managing childcare during working hours.

• Negative workplace feedback: Over two-thirds (77%) of parents reported receiving negative feedback or being reprimanded for taking unplanned time off to care for a sick child or due to daycare closures.

• Seeking balance: 82% of parents are considering working fewer hours to get the balance between family time, the costs of childcare and work right. 

These findings highlight the urgent need for improved work-life balance solutions to support Belgian working parents. Only 26% of respondents are fully satisfied with their current childcare arrangements, underscoring the demand for more flexible work options.

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France working parents analysis 

Despite ongoing government efforts to support working parents, many in France continue to struggle with high childcare costs and inflexible work policies. Remote’s survey of 1,002 working moms and dads highlighted the need for changes to better help them balance professional responsibilities with family life.

The financial burden of childcare is a major issue facing French parents, who spend an average of €493 per week on related costs, such as daycare, transportation, and babysitting. This expense forces many families to make difficult financial decisions, impacting their overall quality of life. In the survey, 74% of parents reported cutting back on essential expenses like healthcare, groceries, and utilities to afford childcare. Additionally, 80% indicated that increased in-office work would further raise their childcare costs.

Additional key findings include:

• The impact of workplace policies on family life: 71% of parents say they have experienced negative impacts due to mandatory return-to-office policies. Nearly as many parents (70.5%) say they have encouraged their partner to quit their job to manage childcare, and 64.5% have considered job resignation themselves.

• Need for flexibility and discrimination concerns: 73% of parents have submitted flexible working requests to their employers. Additionally, more than half of the parents say they have felt discriminated against or overlooked for promotions due to their parental status.  

The survey also reveals that 86% of respondents believe more comprehensive laws and regulations are necessary to support working parents, and 81% feel that the government should do more to fund childcare institutions and provide subsidised options. 

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Hong Kong working parents analysis 

Remote’s survey of 1,002 working parents in Hong Kong highlights the significant need for flexible work arrangements to balance professional and parental responsibilities. The report reveals that flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid or remote work, are highly valued by Hong Kong working parents, even more than job prospects or a 10% pay increase. Key findings include: 

Support for flexible work
A substantial 86% of working parents agree that fully remote work benefits their mental health the most, while 74% believe that hybrid work arrangements also have a positive impact. However, nearly 87% feel they are offered fake flexibility despite their workplaces implementing flexible work policies.

More than 43% of working parents feel anxious that requesting flexible work arrangements could lead to job loss, underscoring the need for better implementation and acceptance of flexible work policies by employers.

Challenges in implementation:
Despite 42.1% of respondents stating their employers have implemented flexible working arrangements, 88.9% feel overlooked for promotions or other opportunities due to being working parents. Additionally, 87.6% have considered quitting their jobs due to the lack of affordable childcare options during working hours.

Impact on job decisions:
The financial and emotional burdens of childcare are evident, with 88.8% of respondents saying they have had to take a pay cut or reduce working hours because of the lack of affordable childcare options. Furthermore, 87% of working parents feel guilty and anxious when requesting time off to care for their children.

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Netherlands working parents analysis 

While many companies in the Netherlands are eagerly searching for new talent and expanding their workforce, Remote’s survey of 1,007 showed that working parents face challenges participating in the workforce. In the survey over 71% of Dutch parents would consider leaving their job if remote working options were to become stricter, and nearly 19% encountered resistance when requesting flexible working arrangements. In our survey, 76% of working parents said they are contemplating working fewer hours to better balance family time, childcare costs, and work responsibilities.

As in many other countries, Dutch parents said the financial burden of childcare is a major issue they face, with spending reaching an average of €723 per week. This is significantly higher compared to other countries, such as France, where the average weekly cost is €492. 

Additional key findings from the survey include:

• Impact of return-to-office policies: 65% of working parents considered quitting their job or encouraged their partner to do so due to increased pressure from return-to-office policies.

• Negative workplace feedback: 68% of parents reported receiving negative feedback or being reprimanded for taking unplanned time off to care for a sick child or due to daycare closures.

Only 28% of respondents are fully satisfied with their current childcare arrangements, with the majority seeking improvements or significant changes. Flexible working arrangements are the second most important factor after pay when choosing a job, with men prioritising job security and commute length, while women place a higher importance on flexibility.

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South Korea working parents analysis 

In South Korea, the balancing act between career and parenting continues to pose significant challenges for working parents. Remote’s survey of 1,005 white-collar workers sheds light on these challenges, underlining the critical need for flexible work arrangements.

Flexibility in work arrangements is not just a preference but a crucial factor for job retention among South Korean working parents, to enable them to balance childcare, school, and other family responsibilities.

• 44% of all respondents indicated that flexible working arrangements are crucial for their decision to stay at their job.

• Remote workers expressed the highest satisfaction with their work-life balance, at 65%, compared to 58% for hybrid and only 49% for in-office workers.

• Nearly three in four parents (72%) have felt the negative impact of return-to-office policies on their work-life balance, with men slightly more likely to have switched jobs due to return-to-office policies, at 37% compared to 32% for women.

Financial strain influences significant life decisions for working parents.

• 58% of parents have considered leaving their jobs due to inadequate work flexibility affecting childcare.

• Women are particularly affected, with 35% likely to reduce working hours to better manage childcare, compared to 25% of men.

• Remote workers report the highest ability to manage work and family without financial compromise, with only 28% expressing the need to adjust their budget for childcare, compared to 45% for in-office workers.

Childcare costs are a key consideration for working parents.

• While 36% of all respondents work primarily to afford childcare, remote workers report childcare as a less dominant career driver at 30%, compared to 35% for hybrid and 40% for in-office workers, suggesting that remote work may offer better opportunities for managing childcare costs alongside career goals.

• 39% of men vs. 34% of women work primarily for childcare affordability, which indicates that mothers and fathers share a similar sense of financial responsibility for childcare needs.

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Sweden working parents analysis 

As return-to-office mandates increase and calls for greater flexibility grow louder, Swedish working parents face significant challenges in balancing work and family life. Remote’s survey of  602 Swedish parents highlights the importance of flexible working conditions and the impact of inflexibility on the everyday lives of working parents.

In the survey, 80% of parents said they have accepted a pay cut or reduced their working hours to better balance childcare with work, and 83% have considered reducing their hours to 80%. Despite Sweden's relatively low childcare costs, non-flexible work policies and negative employer attitudes significantly impact parents' mental health and career progression.

Additional key findings:

• Mental health impact: 80.56% feel guilty or anxious when requesting time off for childcare needs, and 79.40% have been reprimanded for taking unplanned time off to care for a sick child.

• Experiences of discrimination: 71.43% of parents feel discriminated against or overlooked for promotions due to their parental status.

• Return-to-office policies: 80% report that return-to-office mandates have negatively impacted them, with nearly 80% (79.40%) claiming they were offered "fake flexibility" or false promises of remote work and flex-time.

Nearly 70% of respondents believed their current setup could improve with small adjustments, with flexible working as a top priority for many parents. The survey also reveals that 82.39% of parents think better laws and regulations are needed to support flexible working, and 78.57% have submitted flexible working requests, with most being accepted.

In other countries like Finland, France, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the US, generous parental leave policies rank high among job search priorities—between 15% to 26% of respondents consider these options most important when job hunting. However, in Sweden, this option receives zero percent preference.

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United States working parents analysis 

In the United States, the allure of work flexibility through remote and hybrid models promises a new era of balance for working parents. Yet Remote’s survey of 2,001 working parents across the country tells a different story. Amid rising inflation and escalating living costs, the realities of managing careers — even ones with some level of flexibility — alongside young children are proving to be anything but simple.

The Promises vs. realities of hybrid work

The data shows that hybrid work, celebrated for its potential to offer the perfect blend of remote and office-based environments, often falls short of expectations, with hybrid workers actually encountering some of the toughest challenges. 

• Hybrid workers report the highest levels of dissatisfaction with work-life balance at 34%, higher than in-office (31%) and remote workers (29%).

• Nearly two in five hybrid workers (39.8%) say they  have had to reduce their working hours or accept pay cuts due to the soaring costs of childcare during their working hours, compared to 31.3% of remote and 30.6% of in-office working parents.

• 21.8% of hybrid workers want to work from home more frequently to better manage childcare but find their schedules too rigid, nearly on par with the 23.2% of fully in-office workers who face similar constraints.

The financial and emotional toll of work ‘flexibility’

With nearly one in three families spending more than $900 weekly on childcare during work hours, parents are being pushed to make difficult decisions to cope with the financial and emotional strains of balancing work and family life. 

• 40.2% of hybrid and 38.7% of remote working parents have reported reducing spending on essential items, including groceries, healthcare visits, and utilities, in order to afford childcare during their working hours. In-office workers follow slightly behind at 36.4%.

• 38% of remote and 37% of hybrid working parents say they have encouraged their partners to quit their jobs to manage childcare, a sentiment less common among in-office workers (28.8%).

• Despite promises of flexibility, a staggering 77.9% of remote and 71.8% of hybrid working parents report missing key family moments, such as tucking their children into bed, at least three days a week on average due to work obligations, outranking the 68.8% of in-office working parents who report the same.
  

Family planning pressures: A universal challenge

Despite the differences across work models, one thing remains consistent: the profound difficulty and expense of being a working parent in the United States. 

• Nearly one in five parents across all work models have considered sending their young children to school earlier to manage the high costs of childcare, underscoring a common challenge irrespective of work arrangement.

• Nearly one in four parents have delayed or are reconsidering having more children due to their job demands, with the least impact seen among remote workers (22% remote vs. 25% hybrid and 27% in-office), indicating that despite financial pressures, remote roles may offer more confidence in one's ability to balance career and family.

 
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