According to UniSpace, lifestyles and workplaces are blending, as the working day demands more of our time and technology encourages an “always available” work culture.
The data provided by WorkingMums.co.uk indicates that the number of female workers seeking part-time work, at all levels of the company, is increasing rapidly, but that the number of available opportunities is failing to increase at the same rate.
What do the numbers say? From a survey of over 2000 women, it shows nearly one in five (18 percent) UK working mothers have been forced to leave their jobs because a flexible working request has been turned down.
One in five UK working mothers have been forced to leave their jobs because a flexible working request has been turned down Breaking down the statistics, around 12 percent said their employer did not even seem to consider their request at all, and over a quarter said the reason given for turning down the request was not one which is allowable under flexible working legislation.
A further 41 percent on maternity leave said the refusal of flexible working would mean they might not return to their job, while 50 percent said they had not even discussed flexible working before going on maternity leave.
Choice of Mobile Working Options: Flexible working with multiple offices/sites and 4G connectivity would greatly help allow fully mobile working for parents who are on the go.
Providing integration of workplace and lifestyle elements in the workplace helps to alleviate pressure on work/life balance and brings to light recognition of the demands the working day places on them.