Over 8 in 10 working parents would quit if forced back to office more often: report

More than eight in 10 working parents in Australia would consider quitting if asked to report to the office more amid childcare challenges, according to a new report from Remote.

The report, which polled over 13,000 respondents across the world, found that 81% of Australian working parents would consider leaving their jobs if required to work more days in the office.

The sentiment comes amid significant childcare concerns for working parents, according to the report.

It found that 69% of working parents believe that childcare costs would increase if their work arrangements changed, such as having more days in the office.

In fact, nearly 70% of the respondents said they have already cut spending in other areas to keep up with childcare costs, while 57% have admitted to staying with an employer that makes them unhappy but pays more.

Office return and impact on women

Women, in particular, appear to be more vulnerable in this challenge as 70% of the respondents agreed that mothers take a bigger role in bearing childcare responsibilities within their families.

According to the report, 61% of working mothers have taken a pay cut or reduced their working hours because of inadequate childcare options, much higher than 47% of men.

More than nine in 10 women (92%) also feel guilty and anxious about returning to work, compared to 77% of men.

Some 55% of men also admitted to encouraging their partner to quit or consider quitting their job due to a lack of affordable childcare options during working hours.

The findings come as employers, such as Tabcorp and Amazon, order their employees to come back to the office five days a week - a return to the pre-pandemic norms.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) previously urged employers to be "creative" with flexible work so men and women can equally participate in the workforce.

"Flexible work is a key driver for gender equality, but employers should be creative to enable their employees to have flexibility that meets their specific needs," WGEA director Mary Wooldridge previously said.

Read more about the various challenges faced by working parents in this whitepaper from Remote.