Vocal About Local: Parents Say the Option to Work Locally is Essential to Alleviating the Strain of Summer Childcare
For millions of working parents, the approach of the school summer holidays brings a familiar, tightening anxiety. New research from the International Workplace Group reveals that nearly seven in ten parents (69%) are already stressed about orchestrating the upcoming weeks of childcare. In the search for a logistical lifeline, an overwhelming 78% note that having access to a local workspace would significantly alleviate the pressure.
This looming dread is compounded by a harsh economic reality: three-quarters of parents (74%) report they must embrace flexible working models just to keep summer childcare costs from spiraling. Driven by relentless global inflationary pressures, more than a quarter (27%) brace themselves to spend even more on childcare this year than last. With the average family facing an additional £686 bill just to bridge the summer gap, radical professional flexibility has shifted from a modern perk to an absolute economic necessity.
Reduced flexibility challenges parents this summer
Making matters worse, the corporate safety net is unraveling just when parents need it most. A striking 55% of parents have faced a roll-back on flexible working policies this year- a massive spike from the 33% who felt the squeeze in 2025. This corporate shift is forcing families into a chaotic juggling act as they scramble to cover the summer gap.
The cracks in the system are already showing. More than a quarter of parents (27%) are burning through social capital, leaning heavily on friends and relatives for emergency childcare favors. Meanwhile, 26% report that mandated office attendance is causing friction at home, creating an unequal distribution of summer parenting duties between partners. This systemic rigidity hits working mothers the hardest: women are 8% more likely than men to report heightened anxiety over managing the summer holiday logistics (74% vs. 66%), highlighting how the return-to-office push is quietly widening the domestic gender gap.
Parents adjust working patterns during the summer break
Three quarters (75%) of parents also said that their family routine during the summer break affects their working life, with around a quarter (26%) agreeing they find it harder to focus when managing work and home life at the same time. To accommodate the additional stress caused by school holidays, more than a quarter (28%) are having to take some of their annual leave to look after their child or children – with almost one in five (18%) using up all of their annual leave over the summer.
22% of working parents are scheduling fewer meetings or calls during this period, or working later into the evening to cover childcare. A similar number say they start their work earlier in the morning to keep on top of their workload.
However, parents are clear about a potential solution, with 83% saying they would be likely to use a professional flexible workspace closer to home if it were made available to them by their employer. 27% say this would help them spend more quality time with their children this summer.
Companies adopting hybrid working can help offset childcare costs and boost productivity
The findings highlight the role hybrid working can play in helping parents manage childcare more effectively during the summer break. More than two thirds (69%) say they spend less on commuting in summer, helping to offset childcare expenses – reinforcing the value of being able to work closer to home. This aligns with wider evidence on the business case for distributed working. Recent IWG research, conducted in collaboration with Arup, found that businesses empowering employees to use local workspaces and offices as part of their hybrid working approach could boost productivity by up to 12% over the next five years.
The report also found that flexible arrangements can reduce voluntary turnover rates by up to 20% in the U.S, which could translate to annual savings of $22 billion by 2030 and $45 billion by 2045.
Overall, the findings underline how important flexibility has become for working parents during school breaks. With millions managing childcare costs, family routines and changes to where and when they work, the ability to work more flexibly and closer to home can play an important role in helping families navigate the summer period more effectively.
Fatima Koning, Chief Commercial Officer at IWG, said: “Workplace flexibility not only supports the wellbeing of families but also contributes to the overall mental health and job satisfaction of employees. By accommodating the needs of working parents through better access to a range of places to work, particularly local workspaces, employers can foster a more supportive and productive work environment and in turn drive productivity and talent retention.”