A quarter of mums are quitting work within a year of maternity leave – and it’s costing UK businesses £650m

Among the 15% who chose not to return at all, over half (53%) cited poor parental leave or reintegration support as the key reason. And for the 12% who returned only to quit within a year, a massive 83% say it was these very same issues that pushed them out.

The emotional and financial toll of this mass exodus is huge – and not just for the families involved. The report estimates this is costing UK businesses £650 million a year in recruitment and onboarding costs alone.

“Flexible working wasn’t even on the table”

The research, carried out with over 500 mums who’ve been on maternity leave in the past three years, lifts the lid on what’s going wrong when women return to work.

The most common reasons for leaving?

• Not feeling supported by their employer (55%)
• Employers refusing to consider reasonable adjustments (50%)
• Lack of flexible working options like adjusted start/finish times (33%)

One in three women also said their employer expected them to work as though nothing had changed – with one mum commenting that her company “treated my maternity leave like a sabbatical, not the most physically and emotionally intense experience of my life.”

Feeling sidelined – or even forced out

Shockingly, 12% of women said they were actively discriminated against or forced out after returning. This includes being overlooked for promotions, having responsibilities removed, or being made redundant.

Over half (57%) said they were treated differently while pregnant or after coming back to work. Among them:

• 36% said their maternity leave was treated like a ‘break’
• 16% felt their commitment to the company was questioned because they were now a parent

It paints a stark picture of how many mums are made to feel guilty – or even punished – simply for starting a family.

What the experts say

Sophie Maunder, founder of Matri Maternity Coaching, says the findings reflect a wider, systemic issue in UK workplaces.

“The findings paint a worryingly bleak picture with regards to how many women are facing poor treatment when they are returning from maternity leave – or simply knowing that being a parent will not be compatible with their role or company, and are not choosing to return at all,” she explains.

Mothers are not asking for the world – they generally want some practical flexibility that allows them to both work and be a parent, and for their employers to be supportive and understand that some give and take is required.

She adds that failing to offer this support isn’t just bad ethics – it’s bad business.

“When businesses do not offer this, they ultimately end up losing talent and have to fork out to replace those who leave.”

What needs to change?

Experts say the solution isn’t complicated – but it does require a shift in mindset from employers. Matri Coaching, which provides return-to-work coaching and support for companies and employees, recommends businesses take the following steps:

• Offer flexible or phased return-to-work plans
• Provide line managers with parental transition training
• Foster a culture where working parents aren’t made to feel like a burden
• Acknowledge the mental load, not just the job description

The research is yet another reminder that the motherhood penalty is real – but also fixable. With around 590,000 women going on maternity leave in the UK each year, getting this right is no longer just a “nice to have” – it’s essential.

As Sophie Maunder puts it: “When mums feel seen, supported and set up to succeed, everyone wins – including the bottom line.”

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