Why Working Motherhood Becomes Unsustainable and How Work Must Evolve
Working motherhood is often framed as a problem of ambition, commitment, or retention. This research shows something more consequential. Based on original survey data from working moms across roles, industries, and regions, The Future of Working Motherhood 2026 examines why working motherhood becomes unsustainable and what actually determines whether mothers stay, grow, or leave. This […]
Supporting Mums in the Workplace After Maternity Leave
At CharityJob, we recognise all mothers and understand that each person’s journey to motherhood is unique. Wherever their path leads, mums should feel supported by their employer before, during, and especially after time away from work. All organisations should focus on creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace with strong employee retention. Part of this involves ensuring mums are treated […]
Your Paternity and Parental Leave Rights
What’s changing From 6 April 2026, you are eligible for Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave from your very first day in a new job. Previously: You needed 26 weeks’ service for Paternity Leave. You needed one year’s service for Unpaid Parental Leave. From April 2026: Both types of leave became “day one” rights. This […]
Maternity leave and pay
The law recognises employees on maternity leave as being particularly vulnerable and gives them special protection. As a result, employers need to be careful to make sure they comply with their legal obligations in this area. This Inbrief summarises the rights that employees on maternity leave enjoy and looks at some common problem areas. The […]
Half of mothers have negative experiences returning to work after maternity leave, research reveals – so what needs to change?
As report uncovers cases of women being undermined, gaslit and bullied after time off, experts emphasise the importance of line manager training Half (51 per cent) of employees have had a negative experience returning to work after maternity leave, research by & Culture has found, leading to calls for employers to offer better support. The How […]
Pregnant women feel unsafe at work despite legal protection
Pregnant women and new mothers working across public services are regularly exposed to health risks, bullying and violence at work because employers ignore laws or are unaware of staff rights, says UNISON today (Friday). Research carried out by the union and charity Maternity Action has exposed what they say is a worrying gap between maternity rights in law and women’s real-life experiences […]
UK Women in the Workplace 2026
The Visibility Penalty: Motherhood, Promotion and Progress in the Age of AI This International Women’s Day sees HiBob’s fifth annual Women in the Workplace report reveal a stark reality: despite a global push for gender equality, motherhood remains a significant career anchor in the UK. Our 2026 research, surveying 2,000 professionals (52% female, 48% male) […]
Mothers face 42 per cent drop in earnings after first child, ONS finds
Campaigners warn of a ‘financial freefall’ and call for urgent policy reform as figures show impact worsens with subsequent births Mothers face a ‘substantial and long-lasting’ reduction in earnings when they have a child, analysis from the Office for National Statistics has highlighted. The study found mothers in the UK earned on average £1,051 less per month […]
The motherhood penalty is a workforce risk HR can’t afford to ignore
In our work with thousands of women across the UK through our leadership and development programmes, we see the motherhood penalty play out in real time. Women do not arrive lacking ambition or capability. They arrive having lost confidence, visibility or momentum after becoming mothers. Many describe returning from maternity leave to roles that feel diminished, […]
Lack of support drives a quarter of returning parents to quit jobs
Some 87% of parents find returning to work after having a baby challenging, and 73% report lacking the necessary support, according to a survey released today (26 August) by Growth Spurt, a return-to-work support programme. The survey, including 5,329 parents who returned to work within the last three years, found that one in four parents (26%) who […]