A survey of 3,000 working parents in the UK has revealed some stark warnings to employers looking to retain their workforce in 2025.

The Modern Families Index, which is conducted annually by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, found that the number of working parents who say their employer is ‘highly supportive’ of family life has dropped by nearly a third (31%) since last year.

The survey also found that seven in 10 working parents have concerns about the potential impact of increased return-to-office expectations, which coincides with a 22% drop in the ability to work flexibly.

Because of this, many working parents are dangerously close to burnout. Unsurprisingly, almost a third of working parents are reporting high or extreme levels of stress, with 80% of those finding it hard to focus on work.

Those surveyed were asked how strongly they agreed with statements such as ‘My manager cares about my work and home balance’, ‘I feel confident my employer will take account of my family responsibilities and treat me fairly’ and ‘I feel confident discussing family-related issues with my employer’.

The data shows that while support from employers is generally higher than in 2020, it’s been on a steady decline since peaking in 2023.

Employers are becoming less supportive of family life, working parents say