Bright Horizons 2023 Modern Families Index Report

The findings in this year’s Modern Families Index show that the high priority placed on family life is here to stay. More employees feel that their organisation cares about their work and home balance, and their expectations of workplace support reflect both their priorities and the current economic climate.

This year’s study of 3,000 working parents and carers reveals three key areas of focus: working parents’ rising needs and expectations; enhancing employee benefits as a retention tool; and the consideration of all genders when promoting workplace support, with dads especially seeking recognition.

We present practical actions and solutions for leading employers who want to tackle the expectations of their working parents and carers head on.

Key highlights from this year’s report include:

• 71% of working parents and carers agreed that they feel confident discussing family-related issues with their employer; up from 64% in 2022
• 76% have had to take a day off work unexpectedly to meet childcare requirements
• 38% overall are likely to look for new employment in the next 12 months