High earners are significantly more likely to benefit from flexible working, according to research from the Working Families charity published with CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development).

The study found that 69% of parents who together earn more than £70,000 a year work in a flexible way, but 47% of those who earn between £10,000 and £40,000 a year benefit from flexible working. Furthermore, the survey which polled more than 1,000 working parents, found that 55% worked extra, unpaid hours each week, with 25% saying they worked at least five additional unpaid hours a week.

 “We know flexible working makes business sense across the salary spectrum, so why should only the people who earn the most be able to reap the rewards?” Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, said.

According to the survey, 68% of working parents believed their jobs interfered with attending important milestones in their children’s lives.

Jackson stated that employers needed to make the availability of flexible working options – such as part-time working, flexible hours, and remote working – more explicit in their recruitment processes.  

“We want jobs at all levels to be advertised as flexible. And this should be the norm, rather than the exception,” Jackson said.