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Dive deeper into specific country and jurisdictional insights to understand the most valuable benefits and the biggest costs for working parents in each location. Whether you're in Seoul or Sydney, find out how working conditions in your region compare to global trends and what steps can be taken to support working parents more effectively.
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Australia working parents analysis
Remote’s survey of 1,009 Australian working parents reveals the financial and mental health burden that comes with returning to work and paying for childcare, especially for women. In light of these challenges, workers are demanding better flexibility from their employers, with 81% of working parents considering leaving their jobs if they had to work more days in the office.
With 70% of respondents agreeing that mothers take a bigger role in bearing childcare responsibilities within their families, this added feeling contributes to significant feelings of guilt and anxiety, with 92% of women reporting such emotions upon returning to work, compared to 77% of men. Furthermore, 55% of men reported encouraging their partner to quit or consider quitting their job due to a lack of affordable childcare options during working hours, compared to 39% of women. This financial strain often leads women to make significant sacrifices: 61% have taken a pay cut or reduced their working hours because of inadequate childcare options, compared to 47% of men.
Additional findings include:
Financial burdens of childcare: 69% of working parents said their childcare costs would increase if their working arrangements changed, such as having more days in the office. Nearly 70% of parents say they have already reduced spending in other areas to keep up with childcare costs. In the survey, 57% said they have stayed in a job that makes them unhappy but pays more, to afford childcare.
Work-Life Balance: Second to pay (53%), work-life balance is the second most important consideration when working parents are looking for a new job (47%). Around three quarters (74%) of working parents say they’ve felt guilty or anxious when asking for time off for childcare needs.
The survey also highlights the impact of return-to-office policies, with 52% of working parents saying they feel that their company’s return-to-work policy post-pandemic was unfair. If required to work more days in the office, 81% of respondents said they would consider leaving their jobs.
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