Working mothers late for work

More than half of all working mothers lie about why they are late or absent from work if their childcare arrangements have fallen through.

A survey, conducted by the Family Care Company, a nursery chain, indicated that 52 per cent routinely blammed heavy traffic or having overslept because they seemed like a more legitimate excuse than saying that the nanny was late.

The report which involved 1,500 working mothers about attitudes towards them in the office, showed that female colleagues without children were less sympathetic towards them than their male collegues without childen. More than half surveyed showed that men appeared to understand a working mothers situation more than women did.

the report also showed that about 94 per cent said that having children had had an impact on their careers, but only a third said that the dual demands of having a career and a family had affected their partner's job.

Two thirds admitted that they were scared to ask for flexible working time in case it led to bosses assuming they were less committed to the job.

In 2003 the Government introduced the right for parents to request flexible work, however the survey suggests that there is a price to pay with working mothers receiving fewer opportunities and less promotions. Research also suggests that employers were less familiar with law which stops them asking prospective employers about childcare arrangements.

Thanks to The Times, 19/09/07

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See our articles on Parents who work, Maternity leave and pay and Finding the right childcare.