Working and Caring in London Survey 2002

In partnership with the City of London Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, we carried out an online survey into the experiences of parents working and travelling into London, and their childcare arrangements. The results make powerful reading for employers, childcare providers and planners and transport providers and planners.

• 91.7% of parents believe that employers should be offering more practical support to help meet the demands of work and caring.

• 37% feel that the only way they can get their work-life balance right is to give up work, change jobs or reduce their working hours.

• Transport reliability, long working hours, early start and late working are the reality for 98% of respondents, adding pressure to balancing the needs of work and childcare.

PARENTS AT WORK and the City of London EYDCP have made a number of recommendations. The key ones are:

• Childcare planners should recognise that parents working in London have a preference for childcare near to their homes;

• Childcare providers should get feedback from parents on how their work-life balance could be helped by making changes to opening and closing times;

• Employers should ensure, as a business priority, that they understand and endeavour to met the work-life balance concerns of their employees. We believe the establishment of working parents groups will help to inform them in this.

• Transport planners should address the negative effects of service unreliability on the work-life balance of employees and its impact on the success of London business. They should undertake further research into the impact of ticket pricing on the take up of flexible working options.

We believe that there should be an annual London wide survey into working and caring, to enable policy makers, service providers and employers to benefit from enhanced understanding of the interconnectedness of transport, childcare and flexible working.

If you would like to be involved in future surveys then please contact Nazrine Humphrey or Noel Falvey.

To carry out and report on this essential work costs money. We think it is an excellent sponsorship opportunity. To find out why, contact Lisa Cutler on lcutler@breathemail.net

To download a full copy of the survey report, please click here.

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