Working families and the care equation: The next frontier of inclusion
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As the boundaries between work and life continue to blur, inclusion for working parents and carers has never been more urgent or more complex. Despite progress, data continues to show the persistence of the motherhood penalty, unequal access to parental leave, and the disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities carried by women. This evidence-led conversation will unpack what true equity looks like for modern families in the workplace, exploring the latest research on how career trajectories, leadership pipelines and pay equity are shaped by caregiving roles. Speakers will share examples of organisations rethinking flexibility, designing equal parental leave frameworks, supporting returnships, and addressing the “care sandwich” challenge faced by employees balancing parenting with elder or dependent care.
We’ll explore: - The latest data and lived experiences on gendered caregiving and career progression.
- How inclusive flexibility and job design can prevent attrition and unlock diverse leadership pipelines.
- Strategies to make caring a normalised, supported part of professional life, not a career risk.
- The role of leadership, culture and policy in dismantling structural inequities around care.
This session will move beyond surface-level “family friendly” policies to reveal what truly works and what needs to change if we are to create workplaces where all kinds of families can thrive, progress and belong.