- The Balancing Act: Nearly half of Scottish parents (42%) admit their job prevents them maintaining a healthy work-life balance when it comes to their children, with 78% further admitting they feel trapped in their current career due to external factors
- The Need for Change: Self-employment ranked as most attractive (27%) amongst Scottish parents looking for a new career to allow them a better work-parenting balance
- New Career Aspirations: AA Driving School research reveals under pressure parents seek working-life changes
New research from AA Driving School shows that nearly half (42% and 51% across the UK) of Scottish parents find their job prevents them from finding a healthy work-life balance, due to childcare and cost of living pressures.
Increases to the cost of childcare have driven Scottish parents to work either additional hours in their current job (19%) or even take another job (12%) to financially support their family.
The Balancing Act
Data found that 22% of Glaswegians experience parent guilt every day (compared to 18% nationally), the top cause being the need to work additional hours which in Scotland was 50% to support their family financially.
More than half (52%) of UK parents agree that childcare costs influence their career decisions, with the age-old dilemma of ‘having it all’ truly impacting parents as nearly 3 in 5 (59%) feel guilty for working long hours instead of spending time with their children.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of Scottish parents admit they have missed their child’s sports day, parents evening (19%) and even their first steps (10%) due to work commitments.
The Need for Change
Against this backdrop, half of UK parents (49%) are ready to take the plunge and will look to explore a new career path this year to improve their work-life balance. With 60% of people in Edinburgh valuing flexible hours the most when seeking new career benefits, compared to the national average of 50%.
Among UK parents considering a change of employment, nearly third (34% and 27% across Scotland) would prefer self-employment if they were to change careers – ahead of retail (14%), healthcare (13%), education (19%) or other office work such as HR, IT and customer services (16%).
AA Driving School is encouraging Brits who are unhappy with their work-life balance to consider more flexible employment by becoming their own boss as an AA driving instructor.
Camilla Benitz, Managing Director at AA Driving School comments: “Inflexible 9-5 working models make it difficult for many parents to balance work and family life.
“Our research shows there is a greater need for workplace flexibility to assist UK parents balance financial, career and parenting needs. Many AA Driving School instructors have chosen this career to allow them flexibility around their families as well as having a long-term, rewarding career.”
Darren Churchill, an AA Driving School instructor since 2021 shares how being able to work flexibly and choose his own hours has improved his work-life balance: “It was being put on furlough during the first lockdown that first got me thinking about a career change.
“I really valued the extra time I had with my children and I realised I didn’t want to give that up by going back to a 9 to 5 job. Having worked as a front of house manager for Ford previously, I was keen to stay within the motoring industry and becoming a driving instructor really appealed.
“It’s the best decision I’ve made as the flexibility it gives me with my children and family life is invaluable.”
For more information on how to become an AA Driving Instructor, please visit: Driving Instructor Training Courses | AA Driving School (theaa.com)