A survey of 2,000 mothers of children aged 12-18 months by the National Centre for Social Research, presented at a conference on Tuesday, found that single mothers, low-paid mothers or those working for companies without trade union recognition were much less likely than other mothers to have access to part-time work, job sharing, flexible working hours and home working.
The report said, 'A substantial proportion of these mothers did not seem to have access even to arrangements they were legally entitled to, such as the right to request flexible working and to take parental and emergency leave.'
Researchers found that 76 per cent of mothers returned to work after having a baby and those with a low-earning partner were more likely to return to work than women whose partners were in top income groups.
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