As a dad or partner, your role is already so important in supporting working mums. However, when it comes to chores and childcare, 72% of UK working mums say that they do most or all of these tasks, while 46% of dads say that they do most or all of these tasks. They can’t both be right, right? The variance often comes down to the many invisible tasks that women take on, without their partners awareness – everything from chores around the house, to remembering whose birthday it is.

We know things often aren’t easy for working dads and partners either, and work pressures for them means that household and childcare duties often fall to mums.

It can be difficult for working mums to balance work with home life, and expectations in the workplace, while still being their authentic selves through it all.

Luckily, your Motherloving support can make a world of difference to lighten the load. To check out the full research paper, click here(open in new tab).

Maltesers, in partnership with Comic Relief, is working towards a future where women no longer face injustice. Together, we’re working to lighten the load for working mums and help women thrive.

1. Learn about your rights at work and try to make the most of them - there are lots of resources in and outside your workplace to help you navigate them. Ask your employer early about paternity leave, parental policies, and be prepared to negotiate for flexibility.
2. Parent loudly – when you leave work for sports day or school plays, you help normalise it for other parents at work.
3. Chat to other working parents – when you share stories, you might be surprised to find that others have the same issues and concerns.
4. Have a conversation with your partner on how you want to balance chores and childcare so that responsibilities feel fair. Create a plan for who does the dishes, who takes out the bins – you get the idea.
5. Take up some of the invisible mental load of chores and childcare, not just the physical tasks. Instead of just picking up the groceries, plan the meal, write the shopping list etc.
6. Think about what success means for you beyond work. Do you have options to make different parenting choices? Do you have parenting role models at work? Could you be a role model?