We featured on the Irish Examiner on the issue of childcare and flexible work in Ireland on the back of the childcare report from Cork Chamber
‘The findings revealed by Cork Chamber mirror research carried out by Karen O’Reilly, founder of Employflex and Employmum, a Cork firm which provides flexible work recruitment services, consultancy, work audits, and training. Ms O’Reilly wrote a thesis based around how motherhood affected careers and opportunity in Ireland.
“In my research, every mother interviewed had either reduced their hours, moved into flexible work or taken a complete break from employment because full-time work and childcare responsibilities had become unsustainable. The childcare challenge was often the catalyst that changed the trajectory of their careers,” said Ms O’Reilly.
The Chamber childcare report found that more than one in three business respondents (36%) said childcare challenges resulted in employees leaving their organisation or declining roles. “When childcare is unavailable, unaffordable or inflexible, mothers are far more likely to step back from the workforce. However, what is less often discussed is what happens next,” said Ms O’Reilly. “My own research found that none of the professional women interviewed returned to the workforce at the same level they had occupied before having children. Many spoke about sacrificing promotions, leadership opportunities, and earning potential in exchange for flexibility. Several described what I termed a ‘flexi-glass ceiling’, where flexible work allowed them to remain employed but stunted their career progression.
“The childcare crisis has consequences far beyond the early years. It creates a ripple effect that can impact lifetime earnings, pensions, financial independence and representation of women in leadership positions.”
A changing global workplace environment, with technology shifting and AI increasingly prevalent, add further chicanes to extended parental career breaks. “Time away from work can mean lost professional networks, reduced visibility and growing confidence gaps, making the return journey harder than ever.”
Ms O’Reilly notes there are currently zero female CEOs leading Euronext Dublin publicly listed companies. “If Ireland wants to retain experienced professionals and improve female representation at senior levels, childcare policy and flexible work policy must be viewed as two sides of the same coin.”
Read the full article here : https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/economy/arid-41857752.html