Living in the UK and taken a break of 6 months or more from employment (and returned)? Take our survey - £100 voucher to be won

[JustineBMumsnet]

This survey is open to women in the UK who have at least one child and who have taken a break (six months or more) from employment (including maternity, parental or adoptive leave) in order to have children, and who returned to study, paid work, self employment or owning a business after their break.

You do not need to currently be studying, employed, self-employed or a business owner, but you will have returned to study, paid employment or self-employment - even if temporarily - after having a six-month-or-more break for parental leave or similar.

Click here to complete the survey

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Done, but this is a really poorly constructed survey. It assumes the direction of your answers and most follow-up question follow this incorrect assumption. Having children has not affected my career progression, but nearly all follow-up questions assumed that I'd answered that it had affected me, and wanted to know who I blamed. Turns out lots of women can have children and an amazing career. We're not all saps who go all "girly" and start working part-time/using flexible work. Some of us are just competent enough to have a career and children. Why on earth would you "blame" someone for your lack of career progression if you chose to check out of your career?!

Weird survey. What on earth is career shock?

The survey also implies a choice about working or not working. I work for two reasons: I have bills to pay and I enjoy it. This was the case before and after children.

My career has suffered not because of my children but because I like where I live and suitable jobs are rare and I don't want to move. That's nothing to do with my children.

I sensibly chose jobs that enable flexibility and ensured I negotiated this as part of the offer. Ive never struggled with this, but I am a lone parent so maybe my employers realise that I'm not looking for flexibility to pop off to sports day but because actually, without flexibility they can't have me.

Likewise - I don’t know what ‘career shock’ is. And the assumptions behind the survey were incorrect for me. My career has taken a huge ‘hit’ (high flying job and related salary), but I CHOSE to have a 10 year career break and have CHOSEN to have a career change (now a poorly paid TA) so I can be around after school for my children, and do something valuable at the same time. Career isn’t the be all and end all of life.

Another crap survey.
I gave up after all the blame shite.

Done, although I had a dead end jobs before pregnancy and a dead end job now, so not sure I’m the ideal respondent.

Done