One in five workers delay having children due to parental leave concerns, study finds

One in five workers delay having children due to parental leave concerns, study finds New research shows company benefits are important when deciding when to start a family, with the majority saying they would be more likely to do so sooner if better parental leave policies were in place A fifth of workers are delaying starting a family, as worries surrounding workplace parental leave entitlements compound existing anxieties about the cost of living and childcare costs. A survey of 2,000 employees revealed that 67% agreed company benefits play a significant role in their decision about when to have children. Meanwhile, 78% said they would be more likely to start a family sooner if improved parental leave policies were available. It also emerged that 68% felt that with adequate support from their employer, they could advance their career while still being the parent they aspire to be. This comes as the general cost of living (47%), greater financial stability (47%) and the price of childcare (40%) were cited as other major factors for delaying parenthood. The research was commissioned by VodafoneThree to draw attention to the support it offers staff who are starting or expanding their families - with all birthing and adoptive parents entitled to up to 39 weeks of paid leave, and non-birthing parents up to 16 weeks at full pay. Staff returning from family-related leave can also opt to work 80% of their contracted hours for 100% pay during their first six months back in the workplace. This sits alongside broader flexible working arrangements, including core working hours, hybrid working and the option to work remotely from anywhere for up to 20 working days annually. Katrin Jacke, HR director at VodafoneThree, said: "We recognise the incredible value that working parents bring to our organisation. "Although employers can't remove every barrier to parenthood, we can ensure our family-friendly policies give our people the time and flexibility they need in those key moments. "Designing our policies with all parents in mind is one of the ways we can help families share caring responsibilities more equally from the start. Through our continued support and flexible ways of working, we can give our people confidence that they can thrive both in their careers and in their personal life." Research reveals that 52% of employees say family-friendly workplace benefits have influenced their decision to join their current employer. A fifth believe better parental leave would give them greater confidence to start a family. Greater flexibility (59%), enhanced maternity leave (56%), and childcare support or subsidies (20%) are amongst the policies that would make them feel more confident about starting a family. Meanwhile, 28% are considering switching jobs due to parental leave or family-related workplace benefits. When comparing generations, 31% of Millennials are putting off having children due to concerns about workplace parental leave entitlements, while 49% of Gen Z say the same. Furthermore, 39% of 30-49-year-olds feel companies are not doing enough to support working parents - suggesting employers are playing a significant role in shaping parenthood plans for younger generations. A quarter of men had reservations about workplace parental leave entitlements – causing them to put their family plans on hold, compared to 20% of women. Meanwhile, 50% said they would feel more confident about becoming a parent with enhanced paternity leave, according to the OnePoll.com data. Responding to the findings, founder of Parenting Out Loud, Elliot Rae, said: "More dads than ever want to be actively involved in raising their children, and both parents increasingly want to share the care while continuing to thrive in their careers. "People don't just want to have children; they want to be present, involved parents, without having to sacrifice their careers to make that possible. "Employers have a huge role to play in making this a reality - parental leave, genuine flexibility and a workplace culture that supports both mums and dads to be equal parents can make a life-changing difference." ELLIOT RAE'S TOP TIPS ON HOW TO PLAN FOR PARENTHOOD: - Understand your parental leave entitlements - Find out how much leave you and your partner could take, how much you'll be paid and what support is available when you return. - Have honest conversations about how you'll share the care - Talk about what equal parenting might look like for you. - Look beyond the policy to the workplace culture - Find visible role models, including senior men who take parental leave, work flexibly and openly discuss their caregiving responsibilities. - Explore flexibility before you need it - Understand what flexible working options your employer offers, including hybrid working, adjusted hours and compressed weeks. - The perfect parent doesn't exist - It's sensible to plan and understand the support available, but don't feel pressured to have everything figured out.