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The report by charity Family Lives, which has been published to coincide with National Parents Week (22-28 October), outlines how many parents struggle with the challenge of reconciling work and family life, with some even having to give up work altogether.

The report, Family Friendly or Failing Families, also comes ahead of the launch of the Government’s new flexible working proposals under the Modern Workplaces agenda.

While many businesses claim to be family-friendly and supportive of flexible working, there is a clear disparity between aims and implementation, says Family Lives, which analysed current flexible working policies and proposals and spoke to a number of working parents.

The charity claims that the overriding barrier towards implementing a full flexible working policy is a traditional workplace culture that remains wedded to a conventional 9-5 working pattern or longer. This can leave parents feeling unable to request a change in their working patterns

All of the parents reported that being refused flexible working had a significant negative effect on their family lives. Some even had to quit their job as a result.