{"id":316453,"date":"2026-06-16T09:54:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=316453"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:24:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:24:30","slug":"how-workplace-benefits-and-flexibility-shape-parents-ability-to-balance-work-and-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2026\/06\/16\/how-workplace-benefits-and-flexibility-shape-parents-ability-to-balance-work-and-family\/","title":{"rendered":"How workplace benefits and flexibility shape parents\u2019 ability to balance work and family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center report looks at the experiences of working parents in the United States, including how they navigate the demands of work and family life, how they divide responsibilities at home, and how workplace benefits and arrangements shape their experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center does research to help the public, the media and decision-makers understand important topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This research is part of Pew Research Center\u2019s ongoing effort to understand how Americans navigate work<\/a> and family life<\/a> and the changing demands placed on parents<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report is based primarily on a Pew Research Center survey of 2,242 U.S. working parents conducted March 2-15, 2026. Everyone who took part is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel<\/a>. The survey represents the views of U.S. working parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the survey questions<\/a> used for this report, the detailed responses<\/a> and the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to survey data, the report also includes analysis of parents in the labor force using data from the U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s Current Population Survey.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

As part of a larger survey about their experiences, we asked working parents what work arrangements or employer-provided benefits would be the most helpful to them and whether those things are available at their current job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, the arrangements and benefits working parents think of as helpful aren\u2019t widely accessible \u2013 and this is especially true for those with lower family incomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, more than eight-in-ten working parents who are not self-employed say having paid parental, family or medical leave would be extremely or very helpful to them. But only half have access to this benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Majorities also say flexibility to work from home (71%) or flexibility to choose when they work their required hours (71%) would be highly helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But much smaller shares say they have a great deal or a fair amount of flexibility to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n