Lack of flexible working forcing mums out of work

Nearly 20% of working mums have been pushed out of their jobs due to a flexible working request being turned down.

According to Workingmums.co.uk's annual survey of over 2,000 women, 12% said their employer did not consider their request for flexible working at all. Over a quarter said the reason given for turning down the request was not in line with flexible working legislation.

For women currently on maternity leave the figures increased: 35% of those who had their request dismissed said their employer justified it on grounds other than those allowable under flexible working legislation. 68% did not feel the rejection was justified, but 79% did not appeal.

However, of those that did appeal – only five per cent were successful.