Dads report the return to work after parental leave to be the most challenging part of their parental journey, with nearly two-thirds (64%) claiming it was challenging, and 14% saying it was extremely challenging, according to a new survey.
Conducted by WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby) in partnership with Hult International Business School, the survey of 706 working parents (373 mums and 333 dads) who had recently returned to work following maternity, shared, or extended paternity leave, marks the final stage of a four-year, multi-phase academic research programme, which paints a sobering picture of the career realities facing working parents today.
On returning to work after becoming a parent, 57% of dads reported feeling moderate to extreme guilt, one in four (25%) felt unsettled on their return, 55% struggled with resilience, and more than half (51%) said they struggled with self-esteem.
The survey found that identity tension is one of the biggest challenges for dads, with nearly three-quarters (72%) reporting that balancing their parental and work identities was moderately to extremely challenging.
When asked about the specific challenges they’d experienced with regards to identity, dads reported workload (71%), time away from home (70%), and difficulty separating work and family life (66%) as top factors. Plus, 16% of dads found it extremely challenging to have quality time with their child.
Many dads lack effective support when re-entering the workforce
Despite the clear challenges dads face in the transition from being a worker to a working parent, the survey suggests many organisations are failing to effectively prepare dads to re-enter the workplace–39% of dads were not offered Keep in Touch (KIT) days, 39% did not have communication from HR during leave, and one third (33%) did not have communication from their manager.
Plus, more than half (52%) were not offered a return-to-work interview, and 42% were not offered a phased return to work.
What do parents need to thrive, not just survive, in the workplace?
Dads rated financial stability (87%) as the most important factor in their ability to thrive at work. Also among their top five were: bringing their whole selves to work (81%), balancing work and parental identity (81%), being trusted (81%), and having a supportive manager (79%).
Talking about trying to balance finances with family, one dad who participated in the research programme conducted by WOMBA in partnership with Hult International Business School, said: “You want to make sure that you’re spending time with your child. I guess that’s always the balance that you have in life…trying to make sure that you’re keeping a roof over your head and you’re keeping your children happy.”
Helen Sachdev, working parent champion and director of WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby), says, “Becoming a parent is one of life’s biggest transitions, and it doesn’t stop after those two weeks at home. When new dads return to the workplace after parental leave, they are not simply resuming where they left off, they are adjusting to a new identity, new responsibilities, and a new balance between professional and family life.
The UK’s paternity leave offering is among the weakest globally, ranked 40th out of 43 countries in an international comparison based on OECD data.
“The system still treats having children as a ‘women’s issue’ and fails to recognise the impact on dads or support their ability to parent. We know dads want to parent, but outdated policies and expectations continue to force too many fathers to sacrifice parenthood for a career at a cost to mums and families–this must change.”
Dr. Carina Paine Schofield, Director, Leadership Impact Lab at Hult International Business School, says, “Our research shows that supporting dads to take extended leave and return to work isn’t just a matter of fairness–it’s a business imperative. When organisations retain and empower working fathers, they gain more committed, balanced, and future-focused employees. By enabling dads to thrive at work and at home, businesses strengthen their talent pipeline and create more inclusive, resilient workplaces.”
Dads are optimistic about professional future
Despite the challenges returning to work, the survey by WOMBA in partnership with Hult International Business School revealed that many dads are confident and optimistic about their future career prospects–particularly compared to mums. Over two-thirds (69%) of dads said they are very clear about who and what they want to become in the future, compared with just over half (53%) of mums, whilst 66% of dads said they could easily imagine their Future Work Self, compared to just 51% of mums.
Of the dads who had left the organisation where they took parental leave, 71% said it was to move onto a better opportunity elsewhere.
Sachdev says, “Employers need to understand that supporting all working parents to thrive is not a niche initiative; it’s a strategic imperative. Organisations should offer enhanced and equal parental pay so that every parent has the same opportunity to care for their children while continuing to progress in their careers.
“For governments, the priority must be to fix the broken childcare system by making high-quality, affordable childcare accessible to all families; to reform paternity leave by ensuring financial stability and real choice; and to modernise statutory policies so they reflect the needs and aspirations of today’s parents.”
Dads have a vital role in shaping a more equitable future, explains Sachdev, “We urge dads to understand the support available to them in the workplace and use it, join networks, and be positive role models for those around them.”
The post 57% of dads feel guilty on returning to work after parental leave first appeared on HR News.