Problem
50%
Women are 50% more likely than men to say having children has negatively affected their career.
Source: MFI 2026
Challenges: Supporting Parental Leave Return
Support your people to leave well, and come back stronger
Parental leave is a major life and career transition. Supporting employees through family life stages means protecting confidence, connection and career momentum before, during and after leave. Get the transition right, and people return ready to keep contributing, growing and progressing.
THE CHALLENGE IN NUMBERS
Cost
76%
of working parents consider their childcare arrangements before accepting a new role.
Source: MFI 2026
Solution
£30k+
in direct recruitment and ramp-up costs to replace a parental leave non-returner.
Source: Parental Leave Benchmark 2025
OUR APPROACH
Don't just agree a return date. Build a return strategy.
A parental leave policy and a return date are just the beginning. The harder challenge is maintaining confidence, connection and career momentum across the whole transition: before leave begins, while someone is away, as they return and in the months that follow.
That takes more than policy. Returning to work after parental leave is a process, not a moment. Employees need a manager who knows how to support them, trusted guidance as family life changes, childcare they can rely on and a clear sense that their career can keep moving.
When those pieces work together, returning can feel like the next step, instead of starting again.
Supporting Maya
Maya is a senior manager preparing for parental leave. She wants to put her family first and keep progressing.
Work&Life connects support across her transition, while giving Maya and her manager the right help at each moment.
Across the whole transition
Parental Leave Programmes
Personalised tools guide Maya and her manager through each stage. Coaching builds Maya's confidence, while manager support keeps conversations, plans and career momentum moving.
As questions and plans change
Work+Family Space
Trusted resources, specialist advice and childcare research help Maya make informed decisions as her needs and family life change.
When childcare needs to work
Planned & Emergency Care
Priority nursery access helps Maya establish dependable childcare. Planned and emergency care provides flexibility when arrangements change.
You might also be interested in...
Planned & Emergency Care
Work+Family Space
Workplace Nurseries & Partnerships
MEASURABLE IMPACT
What better supported returns can mean for employee retention
Structured support changes more than the experience of parental leave. Across Bright Horizons' client community, parental leave programmes have helped more employees return, while coaching has strengthened the confidence and practical skills people need to keep their careers moving.
Financial Services / 12,000 employees ● 5 min read
A FTSE 100 bank stopped losing returners. The lever was childcare, not policy.
Three years in, attrition among new parents is down 41% and engagement scores are up across the board. Here's what changed — and what didn't.
224% ROI in year one
Legal / 800 employees ● 5 min read
“We were haemorrhaging mid-level associates. Back-up care was the turning point."
A Magic Circle firm explains why same-day cover did what flexible working policies couldn't — and how they made the business case in a single quarter.
224% ROI in year one
GET IN TOUCH
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Other challenges
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