Working parents are burnt out and feel unsupported by employers - Survey highlights

Loading player...
GUEST - Jonathan Hoffenberg - PACES manager

KEY FINDINGS:

- 33% said they are sometimes made to feel guilty by their employers when it comes to parenting commitments that clash with work time

- Managing the work-life balance was listed as the hardest thing about being a working parent, with 92% admitting to struggling at some point with it

- 72% of the respondents are in a two-income household, so there is immense pressure on parents as they are being pulled in many directions - Working parents said they want more flexibility and hybrid work opportunities (57%). They would also appreciate more paid leave days for parenting commitments

- 60% of the female respondents said that at one point or another, they’ve had to change their working arrangements to suit their childcare needs

- Managing stress levels around their kids was the number one area the survey respondents highlighted they wished to improve upon (48%). A further 33% admitted feeling guilty for not spending enough time with their kids, with a large number saying they want to connect more with their children

- Considering that over 53% of the respondents feel only somewhat confident in their skills as working parents, Hoffenberg points out that parents are desperately needing more support from the workplace.
28 Jun 2023 5PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

What South Africans refuse to cut from their personal budgets

Ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s National Budget Speech on 25 February, new research suggests that while policymakers debate deficits and growth forecasts, South Africans are focused on something far more immediate, what they refuse to cut from their own household budgets. What does this tell us about how households view…
18 Feb 3PM 10 min

Call for Minister Godongwana to increase TFSA limits

More than a decade after their introduction, tax-free investment accounts were designed to encourage South Africans to save, offering a unique opportunity to build long-term wealth without the erosion of tax. Yet, according to Lizl Budhram, Head of Advice at Old Mutual Personal Finance, the current framework is in need…
18 Feb 3PM 15 min

Business Confidence Index (BCI) - January 2026

South Africa’s business confidence remains at levels not seen in more than a decade, according to the latest SACCI Business Confidence Index (BCI). The index sits at 131.4 in January 2026, up 11.4 points year-on-year, reflecting optimism among businesses as the country enters a new fiscal year. Joining Gugulethu to…
18 Feb 3PM 12 min

CPI January: Staples ease, meat prices surge

Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist at FNB explores why some staples remain deflationary while protein sources surge, how seasonal and structural factors influence prices and what strategies the agricultural sector and policymakers can adopt to stabilise the market and support both producers and consumers.
18 Feb 3PM 13 min

CPI dips in January

South Africa’s inflation rate ticked slightly lower in January 2026, offering modest relief for consumers but masking persistent price pressures in essential categories. Data released by Statistics South Africa shows annual consumer price inflation at 3.5% in January, down from 3.6% in December. On a monthly basis, prices increased by…
18 Feb 3PM 12 min