74% of working parents would switch jobs over 5-day office requirement

Key takeaways

New research by International Workplace Group reveals that 74% of parents would look for a new job if a long daily commute was required

83% said they feel they have become better parents due to flexibility offered by hybrid working

84% of parents reported having more time for their children since moving to a hybrid model

Parents now spend an extra five hours a week with their families, totalling over 260 hours annually

Hybrid working is saving parents $7,000 ($10,500 AUD) annually on childcare

Three-quarters of working parents say they would look for a new job if they were required to travel to a central office five days a week, new research reveals.

The study, undertaken by International Workplace Group among more than 1,000 parents in hybrid working roles, found that 83% said they were better parents as a result of the flexibility offered by hybrid working.

89% say they are closer to their children and are more present (92%), while 86% say their family’s quality of life has improved.

A key driver of improved family happiness has been the additional time afforded to parents by the reduction of long daily commutes.

84% of parents said hybrid working allowed them to spend more time with their children, with 85% saying they are now more involved in day-to-day parenting responsibilities.

Nine in 10 parents (90%) said that hybrid working had empowered them to have a better work/life balance, which in turn is enabling more time for family activities.

This is particularly pronounced in the morning, with parents reporting that they have more time for breakfast together (67%), getting children ready for school (54%) and doing the school run (53%).

After school, parents said they can now more regularly help their children with homework (46%) and eat dinner with their family (49%), while 9 in 10 (90%) said they were now more able to be there for important milestones and events for their children, including parents' evenings (52%), family birthdays (48%) and school holidays (51%).

This study further supports previous research by International Workplace Group that found more than half (57%) of Australian hybrid workers agree that hybrid working is a major benefit in helping manage their childcare arrangements.

Other benefits for parents included saving money (58%), having more time to spend with family and friends (54%), more socialising (29%), picking up a new hobby (24%), and better holidays (23%).

Additionally, 39% of Aussie working parents said that a lack of work/life balance was the most significant factor in leading them to consider potentially leaving the workforce or their current position.

On average parents now have an additional five hours a week to spend with their families, equivalent to 260 hours a year or an additional hour every working day.

Almost a quarter (23%) of parents reported time savings of more than five hours a week.

The study by International Workplace Group, the world’s leading supplier of hybrid working solutions with brands including Regus and Spaces, also revealed that on average parents were saving nearly $7,000 ($10,500 AUD) a year on childcare.

More than half (56%) said that they would struggle to pay for the childcare services required to cover a full five-day working week in a central office.

About Leanne Jopson Leanne is National Director of Property Management at Metropole and a Property Professional in every sense of the word. With 20 years' experience in real estate, Leanne brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to maximise returns and minimise stress for their clients.