Flexibility is the most important factor for parents when it comes to employment.

That is the opinion of Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, who said that having kids means parents often do not know what will happen the next day and may have to deal with unforeseen illnesses and other situations.

"A good family friendly employer will be offering flexible working on return from maternity and some of the larger players have got the resources to offer maternity coaching [and] buddying schemes," she explained.

Ms Jackson suggested that despite employment laws and legislation, many women are still discriminated against during pregnancy and when they return to work following maternity leave.

Over in the UK, regulations were recently introduced making it the right of parents with children aged 16 and under to request a flexible working pattern from their employer.

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