Summer holiday childcare challenge puts workplace support in the spotlight 

With schools across the UK preparing to break up for the summer holidays, new research suggests employers who provide practical support for working parents could see significant benefits for employee wellbeing, productivity and retention. 

The Work-Life Gap Report 2026 from Bright Horizons argues that family support should be viewed as essential workforce infrastructure, rather than an employee benefit, as caring responsibilities become an increasingly important workplace issue. Around half of the UK workforce now has family dependants, making work-life pressures a structural challenge for employers rather than a niche concern.  

The report combines findings from the Modern Families Index 2026, involving 3,000 UK working parents and carers, with Bright Horizons’ own survey of more than 1,200 employees across 150 UK organisations using its care support services. It found employees with access to practical care support consistently reported higher levels of productivity, wellbeing, engagement and loyalty than those without support.  

The timing is particularly relevant as employers prepare for the annual disruption created by the six-week school summer holiday, when many working parents face increased childcare responsibilities while balancing work commitments. 

According to the report, school holiday childcare is one of the key forms of support employees say would help them spend more time in the workplace, alongside flexible working arrangements and help with childcare costs. Among employees who use employer-supported holiday clubs, 95 per cent said the provision helped them focus during working hours, while 79 per cent of those using Bright Horizons’ Back-Up Care said it enabled them to work on days they otherwise would not have been able to.  

The research also found only 37 per cent of working parents and carers in the wider UK workforce said they were able to switch off and maintain healthy boundaries between work and home life. Among employees using Back-Up Care service, that figure rose to 67 per cent. Meanwhile, 93 per cent of employees with childcare support said it helped them focus more effectively during working hours.  

The report suggests the impact extends beyond day-to-day productivity. Almost half (48 per cent) of unsupported working mothers said caring responsibilities had negatively affected their career. In contrast, 85 per cent of mothers using Back-Up Care said it increased their likelihood of staying with their employer, while 81 per cent reported a positive impact on their performance.  

Bright Horizons argues that as employers continue to focus on workforce health, retention and return-to-office strategies, practical support that helps employees manage predictable disruptions such as school holidays should be considered part of core organisational infrastructure rather than a standalone wellbeing benefit. The report concludes that organisations which reduce the stress associated with caring responsibilities are better placed to improve engagement, resilience and long-term performance.