For single parents, the mental load is constant and often invisible in the workplace. My recent report, Unlocking Potential: Building a Workplace that Works for Single Parents, reflects the experiences of over 300 single parents. The findings are clear: their challenges are distinct, and they are still being overlooked in too many organisations.
Read more: Can we escape the single parent trap?
This isn’t new information. A 2022 report by the campaigning organisation Single Parent Rights revealed that 81% of single parents wanted their employers to better understand the difficulties they face.
While more workplaces claim to offer family-friendly policies, the reality for single parents remains a delicate balancing act. Each delayed meeting, school emergency or last-minute work request doesn’t just disrupt the day, it becomes another decision, another compromise, another moment where one person has to carry it all alone. It’s in those moments that the quiet strength and strain of single parenting come into focus.
Our research showed that flexibility and access to childcare are essential to ensuring single parents can participate fully and progress at work. Although flexible working is increasingly discussed, many single parents told us it is either too limited, inconsistently applied or unavailable when it matters most. The lack of genuine flexibility, coupled with unaffordable or inaccessible childcare, forces many to turn down opportunities or remain in roles that do not reflect their skills or aspirations. This is not only a loss for the individuals involved but a missed opportunity for organisations to harness valuable talent.
Read more: DEI strategy must be inclusive of single parents
The emotional weight of this constant juggle cannot be ignored either. More than half of those surveyed identified time and stress management as their biggest workplace challenge. Many spoke of feeling overwhelmed, guilty, or isolated. These are not just logistical concerns, they deeply affect wellbeing and productivity. Without support and understanding from their employers, many single parents risk disengagement or even exiting the workforce entirely.
Career development is another area where single parents often find themselves at a disadvantage. Even with the drive, experience and qualifications to move forward, many are unable to take on promotions if doing so means sacrificing already limited time with their children or dealing with even more complex childcare arrangements. The cost of ambition, for many, becomes too high.
Workplace culture plays a critical role in shaping how supported single parents feel. While policies may exist on paper, if the culture does not encourage openness or if there remains a stigma around single parenting, the support falls flat. Several participants described feeling judged, misunderstood, or reluctant to speak openly about their situation. That silence creates distance between colleagues and contributes to a sense of being on the outside.
So what can be done? The first step is to make flexibility a standard practice, not a perk to be earned. Policies need to be clear, accessible and applied consistently, so single parents don’t feel they have to justify their needs. Providing childcare support, signposting resources and ensuring managers are trained to have compassionate, non-judgemental conversations can all make a difference. Creating spaces for connection, whether through peer support or informal networks, helps reduce isolation and fosters inclusion. Above all, organisations should regularly review their policies and listen to feedback through the lens of those living these challenges every day.
Read more: Flexible work gives working parents confidence to progress
As workplaces evolve, I hope more leaders will pause to ask: Are we truly seeing and supporting single parents, or are we leaving them to carry the load alone?
Behind each statistic is a real person, driven, motivated and determined to contribute. It’s time to move beyond surface-level policies and fix the system so that single parents can feel they truly belong at work. The opportunity to create lasting change is right in front of us. Let’s make it count.
By Orla Donoghue, single parent coach at Solas Coaching
