The recession has had a huge impact on working families around the country, with 48% of women saying they have lost their job and 8% saying they have become the main breadwinner as a result, according to a www.workingmums.co.uk poll of over 900 women.
The poll of 925 women shows that 10% are working fewer hours than before the recession, 6% are working more hours and only 11% say their working life has been unaffected.
Gillian Nissim, founder of www.workingmums.co.uk, said: “Although the media is now reporting that the recession is over, its impact on families is long-lasting. A large number of those who have commented on the poll have been working flexibly in order to balance work and family life. Many are finding difficulty finding that same flexibility in a new job since the law currently only allows parents to request flexible working six months after they have started a job.
“Workingmums.co.uk is working with many forward-thinking employers who are keen to promote flexible working, often from day one. They understand that this is the best way to recruit and retain experienced staff who will prove a great asset as the economic situation improves.
“We are also pleased to note that a number of organisations have adopted flexible working practices as a way of saving jobs during the recession. We hope that this will not just be used as a stop-gap measure to save money but will bring lasting changes to the UK’s working culture, making it easier for women and men to balance work and family life and giving employers the diverse and committed workforce they need to thrive.”

For more information, contact Mandy Garner on 07789 106435 or email mandy.garner@workingmums.co.uk. For more on the poll comments, click here.