Why single parents are being left behind at work — and how to support them
You've just had the dreaded call from school. Your child has a temperature and needs to be picked up. You can easily work from home, but your boss isn't happy about it. But, what else can you do? As a single parent, the buck stops with you.
A quarter of families in the UK are headed up by a single parent, with 90% of those being single mothers. Yet more often than not, their needs are overlooked by employers.
According to a survey by Single Parent Rights, 81% of single parents want their employers to better understand the challenges they face and 87% need more flexibility. Alarmingly, 35% of full-time employed single parents were working below their skill level due to a lack of flexible work and lack of affordable childcare.
'Most employers still have a traditional two-person household in mind when they think about the working parents in their workforce, which can lead to policies where the challenges of single parents are overlooked,' says Katie Guild, co-founder of Nugget Savings, a platform that campaigns for parental leave transparency and helps people financially plan for parenthood.
Although flexible working became the norm during the Covid-19 lockdowns, many employers are gradually back-peddling on flexible policies. In 2023, jobs advertised with flexible working terms drop to 5.4%, the lowest they've been since 2020.
Read more: The problem with forcing employees to list workplace achievements
Some of the biggest companies in the world — Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Disney (DIS), Google (GOOG), Zoom (ZM), and Meta (META), to name but a few — have mandated that employees return to the office. Reasons include "boosting productivity" and "increasing collaboration", but the corporate crackdown is pushing single parents out of work or into lower-paying, less fulfilling roles.
'Often, there is an assumption that there is 'someone else' to manage the childcare,' says Guild. 'For single parents, when their wage drops to statutory maternity pay or the unpaid portion of maternity leave, there is no-one to pick up that financial slack.
'They have to take on roles because of their flexibility, not because they align with their career goals or indeed skills, which can hinder career progression, productivity and wage potential,' she adds. 'The cost of childcare is also exorbitant for single parents, and the government childcare schemes punish high earning single parents more than two parent households.'
Single parents also face stigma, which can lead to them being unfairly branded as unreliable or less committed than working parents who are in couples.
Louise Webster, founder of Beyond the School Run, a platform connecting mothers with their skills and talents, adds that empathy is also essential. It's a fact of life that kids pick up a plethora of viruses at childcare, so employers need to be understanding if a parent has to pick them up — or becomes unwell more frequently themselves. 'Creating a workplace culture that acknowledges these realities fosters loyalty and productivity,' says Webster.
Firstly, it's essential to acknowledge and understand the systemic issues they face, says Emily Trant, chief impact officer at Wagestream, a financial wellbeing app.
'There is a persistent, outdated view that childcare and family responsibilities are women's responsibilities, and therefore not a business concern,' she says. 'There's also a lack of understanding of the sheer complexity of managing work and solo parenting.'
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to support, employers need to offer truly flexible options that go beyond working from home.
Workplace structures have historically been designed around full-time working hours, but part-time roles, job shares and compressed hours can pay off for everyone. Workers access flexibility and opportunities for career progression and higher-paid work, while employers benefit from a more diverse workforce, better retention of talented staff and ultimately, a stronger bottom line.
Read more: Does AI mean less pay for workers?
'Employers could also give workers more autonomy over scheduling and allow employees to manage their own shifts and work around their family needs,' says Trant.
'They need to avoid demanding instant availability and consider the real-life constraints of single parents. Additionally, cross-training employees can provide opportunities for skill development to enable flexible roles.'
Single parents have less financial and practical flexibility than couple parents, so offering paid leave for child illnesses and emergencies can be a huge help.
'Support networks also play a vital role,' says Webster. 'The saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' is even more relevant for single parents. Employers can help by providing access to childcare options, internal support networks, and peer communities where parents can share insights and advice.'
And as children grow and parents gain more free time, employers who support parent-friendly policies stand to benefit.
'Employers that prioritise these initiatives will not only retain valuable talent but also tap into the potential of a highly motivated and productive workforce,' says Trant. 'This isn't merely about social responsibility — it's a smart business strategy.'
Read more:
Is it ever worth revenge quitting your job?
What is career catfishing and why is it on the rise?
Why some leaders infantilise their workers
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT) Delivers Strong Q1 Numbers, Stock Soars
Used-car retailer America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT) beat Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 1.9% year on year to $370.2 million. Its GAAP profit of $1.26 per share was 46.1% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy America's Car-Mart? Find out in our full research report. Revenue: $370.2 million vs analyst estimates of $343.5 million (1.9% year-on-year growth, 7.8% beat) EPS (GAAP): $1.26 vs analyst estimates of $0.86 (46.1% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $33.92 million vs analyst estimates of $25.12 million (9.2% margin, 35.1% beat) Operating Margin: 8.6%, up from 5.1% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was $18.44 million, up from -$12.01 million in the same quarter last year Locations: 154 at quarter end, in line with the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 3.9% year on year (-5.3% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $477 million With a strong presence in the Southern and Central US, America's Car-Mart (NASDAQ:CRMT) sells used cars to budget-conscious consumers. Examining a company's long-term performance can provide clues about its quality. Any business can have short-term success, but a top-tier one grows for years. With $1.39 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, America's Car-Mart is a small retailer, which sometimes brings disadvantages compared to larger competitors benefiting from economies of scale and negotiating leverage with suppliers. On the bright side, it can grow faster because it has more white space to build new stores. As you can see below, America's Car-Mart grew its sales at a solid 13% compounded annual growth rate over the last six years (we compare to 2019 to normalize for COVID-19 impacts) despite not opening many new stores. This quarter, America's Car-Mart reported modest year-on-year revenue growth of 1.9% but beat Wall Street's estimates by 7.8%. Looking ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 4.7% over the next 12 months, a deceleration versus the last six years. Still, this projection is healthy and implies the market sees success for its products. Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we've identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link. America's Car-Mart listed 154 locations in the latest quarter and has kept its store count flat over the last two years while other consumer retail businesses have opted for growth. When a retailer keeps its store footprint steady, it usually means demand is stable and it's focusing on operational efficiency to increase profitability. The change in a company's store base only tells one side of the story. The other is the performance of its existing locations and e-commerce sales, which informs management teams whether they should expand or downsize their physical footprints. Same-store sales provides a deeper understanding of this issue because it measures organic growth at brick-and-mortar shops for at least a year. America's Car-Mart's demand has been shrinking over the last two years as its same-store sales have averaged 2.7% annual declines. This performance isn't ideal, and we'd be concerned if America's Car-Mart starts opening new stores to artificially boost revenue growth. In the latest quarter, America's Car-Mart's same-store sales fell by 3.9% year on year. This decrease represents a further deceleration from its historical levels. We hope the business can get back on track. We were impressed by how significantly America's Car-Mart blew past analysts' revenue, EPS, and adjusted operating income expectations this quarter. Zooming out, we think this quarter featured some important positives. The stock traded up 6.9% to $61.75 immediately following the results. America's Car-Mart may have had a good quarter, but does that mean you should invest right now? The latest quarter does matter, but not nearly as much as longer-term fundamentals and valuation, when deciding if the stock is a buy. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it's free. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
U.S. debt-limit deadlock is making this favorite asset more scarce
The booming money-market-fund industry could soon face a shortage of its favorite assets to buy. The supply of Treasury bills, a kind of short-term debt used to fund the federal government, has been shrinking since January, when the U.S. hit its $36.1 trillion debt limit. I'm in my 80s and have 2 kids. How do I choose between them to be my executor? My friend, 83, wants to add me to his bank account to pay his bills. What could go wrong? Why Goldman Sachs says high-flying tech stocks may be headed for a tough stretch Gundlach says gold is no longer for lunatics as the bond king says wait to buy the 30-year 'It might be another Apple or Microsoft': My wife invested $100K in one stock and it exploded 1,500%. Do we sell? That matters because investors poured more than $7 trillion into U.S. money-market funds. The industry ranks as the second-largest group of investors in the $6 trillion T-bill sector, behind the category of households and others. T-bills are considered a cash equivalent because they tend to be liquid and mature in a year or less. But as the supply dwindles, competition for fewer assets increases, which can lead to shrinking yields. 'Cutbacks so far have been manageable,' Deborah Cunningham, chief investment officer for global liquidity markets at Federated Hermes, told MarketWatch. Yet she expects it to become more problematic the longer the debt-ceiling issue drags out. After the U.S. debt limit was reached in January, the Treasury began running down the supply of outstanding bills. Barclays analysts estimate the sector shrunk by $375 billion through May. See: Trump's Treasury is running out of money fast. Why the 'X date' matters for markets. The yield on the 3-month Treasury bill BX:TMUBMUSD03M was at 4.35% on Wednesday, down from closer to 5.4% a year ago, according to FactSet data. The drop in yield largely traced the series of Federal Reserve rate cuts last year. While the bond market has been hyperfocused on the U.S. deficit, House Republicans passed a massive tax and spending bill in May that would add $4 trillion to the nation's debt limit, providing the U.S. more runway to borrow. The plan would add $2.4 trillion to the U.S. deficit over the next decade, with another $551 billion in debt-servicing costs over that time frame, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The Senate now must weigh in on the bill. As those negotiations continue, the supply of T-bills will keep shrinking and the U.S. will draw closer to its 'X date,' the estimated point at which the Treasury will have exhausted all its emergency cash-management strategies and won't be able to pay all of its bills on time. Some estimates put the X date around mid-August, but it has been a moving target based on tax receipts, tariffs and other factors. To offset dwindling T-bill supply, some money-market funds also can invest in somewhat longer-duration Treasury securities, repurchase agreements and other government-related assets. 'That opens up a much broader group of assets,' Cunningham said of many funds. A much smaller subset of funds were designed to only invest in short-term T-bills. With the major U.S. stock indexes SPX DJIA COMP back near record territory, many investors have been reluctant to move out of money-market funds and other cashlike havens. U.S. money-market funds hit a record $7.4 trillion in assets in the first week of June, according to Peter Crane, president and CEO of Crane Data. While weekly flows were expected to come under pressure around the June 15 tax-payment deadline, he said that could help offset some of the supply and demand issues in T-bills. 'You are not seeing the gigantic inflows of two years ago,' Crane added. 'But you will see inflows in the second half. That could become an issue then.' Ideally, the debt-ceiling issue would be resolved by then, unleashing the start of what Barclays analysts think could be a $1.4 trillion to $2 trillion deluge of new bill issuance through the end of 2026. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was expected to follow the recent trend and keep U.S. borrowing needs focused in shorter-term bill issuance. 'That will be a great thing. Right now, rates are lower than they should be in the Treasury market because of the cutback in supply,' Cunningham said. 'When the debt ceiling is finalized and bill supply resumes, that's a positive from a money-market-fund industry standpoint.' Fund manager who sold Tesla, just in time, says investors are overlooking these tech bargains My life partner is 18 years my senior. He wants to leave his $4.5 million fortune to me — not his two kids. Do we tell them? 'I prepaid our mom's rent for a year': My sister is a millionaire and never helps our mother. How do I cut her out of her will? The S&P 500 is nearly back to record highs, but investors shouldn't get too comfortable Value investing is finally excelling again in 2025 — but there is one catch for Americans Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The most dangerous threat to your money may not be a market crash. It's much more personal.
Successful investing isn't about chasing hot stocks, reacting to headlines or tweaking portfolios in response to every market flutter. Instead, success lies in having a prudent, academically grounded strategy — and the emotional fortitude to stick with it through all seasons, especially the stormy ones. I've been asked in recent interviews, 'What guidance are you giving investors right now?' My answer hasn't changed in more than three decades: Stay disciplined. Follow a structured plan. Stay globally diversified. Don't fear rebalancing. But perhaps most importantly, make sure the financial advice you're getting — and paying for — corresponds to your investing worldview. I'm in my 80s and have 2 kids. How do I choose between them to be my executor? My friend, 83, wants to add me to his bank account to pay his bills. What could go wrong? Why Goldman Sachs says high-flying tech stocks may be headed for a tough stretch Gundlach says gold is no longer for lunatics as the bond king says wait to buy the 30-year 'It might be another Apple or Microsoft': My wife invested $100K in one stock and it exploded 1,500%. Do we sell? That last point is often overlooked. Yet it's critical. The relationship you have with your financial adviser is about far more than fees or fund selection. It's about alignment in beliefs, behavior and in the long-term approach to wealth creation. If your adviser encourages you to chase performance, time the market or make emotionally-driven decisions based on short-term news, the potential risk isn't just underperformance — it's the derailment of your entire financial future. Many investors underestimate just how much their adviser's mindset and philosophical framework can impact their own financial results. Financial markets are volatile; your adviser's response can either help you stay calm and disciplined or nudge you toward panic-driven decisions that can undermine years of progress. Contrary to popular belief, volatility isn't inherently dangerous. In fact, volatility on the upside is what every investor hopes for. But when the market dips or news cycles trigger fear, an adviser rooted in empirically tested economic principles can help you navigate uncertainty with prudent clarity. That's why now, more than ever, it's time for a candid conversation. Start with these three questions: 1. What science and academic research support your investment strategy? Every investment philosophy should stand on a foundation of academics — not speculation. Your adviser's approach should be built around long-term empirical research, academic studies and a deep understanding of market history. If their strategy depends on forecasting market movements or capitalizing on 'the next big thing,' you may be taking more risks than you realize. Ask the adviser to explain his or her investment process. Can they articulate their philosophy clearly and without jargon? Do they rely on academically tested theories, such as Modern Portfolio Theory or the Efficient Market Hypothesis? If the response centers on intuition, recent trends or proprietary forecasts, it could be a red flag. 2. How do you help investors stay disciplined in turbulent markets? Even the most intelligent plan can be worthless without the discipline to follow it. Fear and greed are powerful forces. In periods of market turmoil, they can often lead investors to make the most imprudent decisions at the worst times — selling low, chasing performance, abandoning prudent strategy. Standout advisers do more than manage your money. They coach you through uncertainty, provide perspective and reinforce your long-term goals. Ask an adviser how they help clients maintain discipline. Do they offer education? Do they proactively reach out during tough times to help you focus on the big picture? Do they have systems and tools designed to promote consistency over emotion? Discipline isn't a switch you flip once — it's a lifelong practice. Your adviser should be your strongest advocate and ally in that commitment. 3. How are you compensated? Transparency in compensation is essential. You deserve to know whether your adviser earns commissions based on transactions or product sales, or if they are compensated in ways that align with your best interests. When an adviser's income depends on how often they move your money or which products they sell you, their interests might not be fully aligned with yours. On the other hand, advisers who are fee-based and focused on long-term outcomes are more likely to be fiduciaries — required to act in your best interest rather than their own. If you don't like the answers you get to these three critical questions, it may be time to reconsider the relationship. Your financial future is too important to entrust to someone whose philosophy and incentives don't align with your own. The most dangerous risk you face as an investor may not be a market crash— it may be philosophical misalignment with your adviser. Even the most well-designed portfolio can be undone by inconsistent guidance or emotionally driven decisions. But with an adviser who shares your worldview, honors your long-term goals, and adheres to shared foundational principles, you can gain not just strategy, but the ability to discover what your true purpose is — wealth that is greater than money. An aligned adviser can help you: Markets will rise and fall. What's uncertain is how you'll respond — and that's where the right adviser can make all the difference. Choose someone who doesn't just talk the talk but lives it. Someone who can help you stay focused on what really matters: keeping you disciplined and reminding you of what your true purpose is. Because when the next market storm comes — and it will — you don't want to be alone in the boat. You want a steady hand at the helm, grounded in science, data, academics, and the belief in the power of discipline. 'Experiencing the American Dream: How to Invest Your Time, Energy and Money to Create an Extraordinary Life' (Wiley, 2024). More: Fear and greed are no friend to investors. But this behavior can really break you. Also read: Your new money guide: 7 ways to save, invest and plan in today's unpredictable economy Fund manager who sold Tesla, just in time, says investors are overlooking these tech bargains My life partner is 18 years my senior. He wants to leave his $4.5 million fortune to me — not his two kids. Do we tell them? 'I prepaid our mom's rent for a year': My sister is a millionaire and never helps our mother. How do I cut her out of her will? The S&P 500 is nearly back to record highs, but investors shouldn't get too comfortable Value investing is finally excelling again in 2025 — but there is one catch for Americans Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data