Vocal About Local: Parents say the option to work locally is essential to alleviating the strain of summer childcare

This comes as almost three quarters (74%) of parents say they will need to work flexibly to reduce summer childcare costs, given ongoing global inflationary pressures - with more than a quarter (27%) anticipating they will spend more on childcare this summer than they did previously.

With the average cost of additional summer childcare reaching $908 for parents, flexibility is key for many families trying to balance family and professional commitments.

Reduced flexibility challenges parents this summer

Parents who have faced a reduction in flexible working policies at their workplace this year (55%, up from 33% in 2025) are being forced to take extra measures to help juggle childcare and their workload this summer.

More than a quarter (27%) are now asking more favours from their friends and family for support, while 26% think forced central-office attendance is creating an imbalance of summer childcare between them and their partner. This disproportionately affects working mothers, who are 8% more likely to feel added stress from managing summer childcare than men (74% vs 66%).

Parents adjust working patterns during the summer break

Three quarters (75%) of parents also said that their family routine during the summer break affects their working life, with around a quarter (26%) agreeing they find it harder to focus when managing work and home life at the same time.

To accommodate the additional stress caused by school holidays, more than a quarter (28%) are having to take some of their annual leave to look after their child or children - with almost one in five (18%) using up all of their annual leave over the summer.

22% of working parents are scheduling fewer meetings or calls during this period, or working later into the evening to cover childcare. A similar number (21%) say they start their work earlier in the morning to keep on top of their workload.

However, parents are clear about a potential solution, with 83% saying they would be likely to use a professional flexible workspace closer to home if it were made available to them by their employer. 27% say this would help them spend more quality time with their children this summer.

Companies adopting hybrid working can help offset childcare costs and boost productivity

The findings highlight the role hybrid working can play in helping parents manage childcare more effectively during the summer break. More than two thirds (69%) say they spend less on commuting in summer, helping to offset childcare expenses - reinforcing the value of being able to work closer to home.

This aligns with wider evidence on the business case for distributed working. Recent IWG research, conducted in collaboration with Arup, found that businesses empowering employees to use local workspaces and offices as part of their hybrid working approach could boost productivity by up to 12% over the next five years.

The report also found that flexible arrangements can reduce voluntary turnover rates by up to 20% in the U.S, which could translate to annual savings of $22 billion by 2030 and $45 billion by 2045.

Overall, the findings underline how important flexibility has become for working parents during school breaks. With millions managing childcare costs, family routines and changes to where and when they work, the ability to work more flexibly and closer to home can play an important role in helping families navigate the summer period more effectively.

Fatima Koning, Chief Commercial Officer at IWG, said: “Workplace flexibility not only supports the wellbeing of families but also contributes to the overall mental health and job satisfaction of employees. By accommodating the needs of working parents through better access to a range of places to work, particularly local workspaces, employers can foster a more supportive and productive work environment and in turn drive productivity and talent retention.”