Working parents still under immense pressure in 2025

New research has found that working parents across Australia still face issues that plagued them in 2024.

A study commissioned by Real Insurance has found that many Aussie parents who took parental leave regretted returning to work at the time that they did (57 per cent), citing mounting financial pressures (45 per cent) and missing out on important moments in their children’s lives (39 per cent) as the main sources for their regret.

Despite this regret, a majority of Aussie parents simply can’t afford to stay out of work for longer durations as the cost of living (54 per cent) and meeting basic household needs (48 per cent) often push them back to the workplace.

The emotional rollercoaster that surrounds returning to the workplace can be exhausting, as many parents report feeling anxiety (37 per cent), stress (31 per cent), guilt (30 per cent), and sadness (25 per cent) upon resuming their careers.

“The emotional rollercoaster of returning to work after parental leave is very real,” said Roxanne Hart, director and senior lawyer at Hart & Co Lawyers.

“The emotional rollercoaster of returning to work after parental leave is very real. It’s crucial for employers to foster a supportive and understanding environment by establishing clear communication channels for emergencies, equitable opportunities for career progression, and a workplace culture free from judgment or bias, regardless of parental status.

“Fortunately, in terms of alleviating financial pressures, there have been significant changes to the government paid parental leave scheme.”

According to the report, over two in three (67 per cent) working parents experience guilt when they must leave work unexpectedly for child-related emergencies – highlighting that it can be a double-edged sword.

Intertwined with these issues, of course, is the financial burden of raising children, as half of working parents find it unaffordable to have children at all. To deal with childcare pressures for example, the majority (81 per cent) of parents rely on support from in-laws or other family members.

Despite this crutch, almost three in four (74 per cent) parents find managing their child’s care and education expenses challenging. Many parents are forced to dip extract funds from their savings (44 per cent) or take on extra working hours (42 per cent) to survive.

“The desire to achieve financial stability while being emotionally present for their children creates a constant tension for many parents. Creating a supportive work environment that allows for flexibility and understanding can be crucial in alleviating some of this pressure,” said Hart.