A new report reveals that parents increasingly want flexible work, predictable schedules and more time with family, as 75% say modern jobs no longer fit real family life.
Three quarters of working parents say their current work arrangements do not match the life they actually want, while nearly three in four (72%) simply want more flexibility to spend time with their children, according to a major US survey.
The findings, from the first-of-its-kind 2026 National Parent Survey involving more than 5,400 parents across America, paint a stark picture of modern family life, where rigid work structures, financial pressure and unpredictable schedules are leaving many parents feeling trapped between work and caregiving responsibilities.
KEY FINDINGS
The key findings from the report show that:
- 75% of parents say their current work arrangement does not fully match their ideal scenario.
- 72% want more quality time with their children.
- 66% said higher wages would most improve family life.
- Nearly nine in 10 parents (88%) still want to work in some capacity.
- Parents with variable schedules were significantly less likely to want full-time work.
- More than one in four parents of young children are also caring for an older adult family member.
The research was conducted by the New Practice Lab at New America and is being described as one of the most comprehensive snapshots yet of what parents actually want from work, childcare and family life.
The findings echo growing international concern over inflexible workplace cultures and mounting pressure on working families. Earlier reporting by Fair Play Talks found that one in three parents with children under seven had quit jobs due to a lack of flexible working, reinforcing concerns that many modern jobs no longer fit around family life.
WORKING PARENTS WANT FLEXIBILITY
Researchers say the findings challenge the increasingly polarised debate around work, childcare and parenting in the US. Rather than demanding one-size-fits-all solutions, many parents said they simply want more flexibility, greater financial stability and the ability to spend meaningful time with their children.
“Parents with young children want time. They want flexibility. They want wages that keep up and to be genuinely present – for bedtimes and mealtimes, for unplanned afternoons, for the kind of play that doesn’t fit on a calendar,” Tara Dawson McGuinness, Executive Director of the New Practice Lab. “Too many parents are forced to choose between showing up for their kids and making enough to provide for them. There is a gap between what families actually say they need and the public policies we are offering to support them in raising their kids.”
UNPREDICTABLE WORK STRUCTURES
The survey found that financial constraints remain one of the biggest barriers preventing parents from spending time the way they would ideally like. The report suggests many parents are not rejecting work itself but are increasingly rejecting rigid or unpredictable work structures that make family life harder to manage. Among parents with regular and consistent schedules, a majority preferred full-time work, but that figure fell sharply among those with rotating or variable schedules.
The findings also revealed significant differences between working mothers and fathers. Among dads with children under six, around two-thirds (64%) said they ideally wanted full-time work, compared with only 30% of mothers, who were significantly more likely to prefer part-time or flexible arrangements while raising young children.
Researchers found that parents’ ideal work patterns also shift depending on the age of their children, with parents of infants more likely to prefer not working or working flexibly compared with parents of older children.
The findings support previous Fair Play Talks reporting showing that most UK workers – especially working parents – resist full-time return-to-office demands as employees increasingly prioritise flexibility and wellbeing.
CHILDCARE COSTS
The report highlights growing economic strain on families raising young children across America. Researchers noted that childcare costs now consume around 10% of a married couple’s average annual income and approximately one-third of a single parent’s income.
The report also cited rising housing costs, inflation and income drops after having children as major contributors to parental stress and burnout. According to the findings, many parents feel modern work structures are increasingly incompatible with raising children. One parent surveyed said: “I want to be able to provide for my family and make sure they are safe and happy.”
Another mother admitted: “I spent many years getting my degree, and now I feel a sense of guilt and pressure to use it, even though ideally I’d just be a stay-at-home mom entirely.”
A father of two in Texas added: “I just want to be a stay-at-home [parent]. I just like it more.” The findings also build on previous Fair Play Talks coverage revealing that poor support for working parents is driving talent away as employees increasingly reconsider what they want from employers.
GROWING PRESSURES ON SANDWICH GENERATION
The survey also highlighted the increasing burden facing parents who are simultaneously caring for young children and ageing relatives. More than one in four parents with children under six – equivalent to more than seven million Americans – said they also regularly provide care for an older adult family member.
Researchers found this pressure falls disproportionately on lower-income families and Black and Hispanic parents. One parent described the strain simply: “Trying to parent [children] while taking care of a parent too is hard.”
WHY WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY MATTERS
The findings come as employers across the US and UK continue pushing for stricter office attendance policies despite growing evidence that flexibility is increasingly critical for working parents, carers and younger workers balancing rising living costs and childcare pressures.
Experts warn that organisations failing to modernise work structures risk worsening burnout, talent shortages and employee disengagement.
WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD DO
Experts say the findings send a clear warning to employers that flexibility is increasingly viewed as essential rather than optional.
1. Build flexibility into jobs from the start
The survey suggests parents increasingly want jobs that fit around family life through flexible work hours, rather than forcing family life around work, as reported. Employers that advertise flexibility upfront may widen their talent pool significantly.
2. Focus on predictable schedules
Parents with regular working schedules were significantly more likely to favour full-time work than those dealing with unpredictable or rotating shifts. Stable scheduling may therefore improve retention and employee wellbeing.
3. Support working mothers at different life stages
The findings showed mothers were significantly more likely to prefer flexible or part-time work, while children are young, as reported here.
4. Recognise wider caregiving pressures
With more than one in four parents also caring for ageing relatives, employers may need broader family-friendly policies that support the realities of modern caregiving.
5. Prioritise outcomes over presenteeism
Experts say organisations that judge performance by results rather than office visibility are increasingly likely to retain experienced employees. Read this article here for further context.
INTENSIFYING NEED FOR WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY
Researchers behind the survey said the findings reveal a growing mismatch between modern family life and traditional workplace expectations. “The survey data reframes a debate that has long been trapped in partisan corners. For too long we have been asking families what they think of our policy solutions, not what they need,” said Amira Boland, Chief of Staff at the New Practice Lab. “We need more creative public policies, especially as families want more choice in their work and care arrangements for children at different ages.”
As debates over return-to-office mandates, childcare affordability and workplace flexibility intensify globally, the survey suggests many parents are no longer asking whether flexible work is desirable, but whether traditional work structures are sustainable at all.
Click here to read the full report.
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