"Whilst we can’t take away the guilt, we can help alleviate some of the financial stress by providing protection & peace of mind."
- Richard Horner, Head of Individual Protection at MetLife UK
Of those surveyed (3,003 working parents with children aged 22 or younger), 45% admitted that they have or would make up excuses for unplanned absence to care for their poorly child(ren). The most common excuses parents have or would give are being ill themselves (18%), having an appointment (13%), and problems at home, such as a leak (9%).
Furthermore, 8% have or would say a colleague has covered for me, followed by my child(ren) got in trouble at school (8%), there’s been a death in the family (6%), a relative was poorly, I’ve put a fake meeting in the diary (6%), I haven’t said anything, I’ve just gone/switched off (5%), I had a car accident (4%), no internet access (4%), and having to go to the vets (4%).
MetLife UK also found that mothers are more likely to take time away from the workplace to look after their poorly child(ren) versus fathers (53% compared to 23%).
Discussing why parents are making false excuses to take time off work to care for their child(ren), 49% said they were concerned about telling their employer the truth. MetLife believes this not only highlights the pressure working parents feel in maintaining their careers and looking after their child(ren), but also how parents may feel conflicted over which responsibility to prioritise.
Notably, more than a quarter (26%) said they’d feel guilty for taking time off work – rising to 30% of mothers versus 18% of fathers. 17% said they’d feel afraid it would reflect badly on them professionally (20% of mothers vs 12% of fathers). 13% were concerned it’d impact future promotions/pay rises, increasing to 14% of mothers but only 11% of fathers.
“The challenges faced by working parents today are undeniable. Trying to be there for their child(ren) when they need them most, whilst trying to juggle work and make ends meet is stressful. A common situation that unfortunately many parents face. It’s parents’ guilt combined with workers’ guilt, and both can also have a knock-on effect on parents’ mental wellbeing,” explained Richard Horner, Head of Individual Protection at MetLife UK.
“We understand the immense pressures that parents face and believe that every parent deserves the opportunity to balance their work and family responsibilities without fear. Whilst we can’t take away the guilt, we can help alleviate some of the financial stress by providing protection & peace of mind,” he concluded.
