Working Part-Time.
What works. What doesn't - and what could.
Part-time work is often held up as the answer to work-life balance — especially for parents. But does it deliver on that promise? And if not, what needs to change?
1. Why it matters
For many parents, part-time work isn’t a choice — it’s the only way to make life work. But that often comes with trade-offs: stalled careers, lower pay, fewer protections, and invisible labour.
This matters because it affects real families, every single day — and shapes who gets to thrive at work and at home.
Rethinking part-time work isn’t just about flexibility — it’s about fairness, dignity, and possibility.
2. What we know
We’ve gathered research and expert insight on the impact of part-time work — from flexibility and pay equity to career progression and wellbeing.
We've also worked with some of the UK's largest employers to explore people's experience of working part-time across a wide range of job functions to bring new new insights about the realities of working part-time.
3. What you've told us so far
Parents are sharing their real experiences — the compromises, the breakthroughs, and the frustrations that don't make the headlines.
Here's a selection of what we've heard so far:
"I'd love to work part-time but I just can't do it. I've put so much into my career I don't think I can walk away but at the same time, I know I'm not going to get this time back. It feels impossible."
"I'm really conscious that I'm treading a new path, creating a new normal, and building doors behind me that will make it easier for other parents coming after me. So yes, it can feel hard, but it will only change if we each do the work that needs to be done."
"I try to be really supportive of the people working part-time in my team. I wish I could work part-time as well but it's just not an option at this level of the organisation."
"In the early days, it felt like my career was running through my fingers but nearly 10 years on I'm not sure I can ever see myself going back to full-time work."
"We have core working hours, this has given everyone a level playing field when it comes to being visible in the organisation whether they're part-time or full-time."
"Weirdly, even though I work part-time, in some ways I feel I have less flexibility than people working full-time. It's so hard to get everything done in the time I've got."
"I feel so lucky to be able to work part-time and I think I feel I need to prove I can still do the job and not let anyone down. So even on the days I'm not working I'm still checking my email, keeping on top of things."
4. What's missing?
We’re listening for what isn’t being said — the patterns beneath the surface, the barriers we don’t always see, the problems still waiting for a solution.
We don’t have all the answers — but together, we can start asking better questions.
What do you see that others might be missing? What’s the change you think is needed?