A significant number of Dutch parents encounter stereotypes about parenthood in the workplace. The most common bias is that parents take more time off and have less availability for work, according to a recent Indeed survey. Notably, 25% of women anticipate that their supervisor views parenthood as a career hindrance, compared to 16% of men.
Views on the performance of parents are more optimistic. Over 60% report no change in their work output after having children, nearly 25% say they perform even better, while just 11% note a decline.
Employers play a crucial role in supporting work-parenthood balance through flexibility—such as variable daily hours, remote work options, and expanded paid parental leave. Strikingly, nearly 40% of parents feel unprepared to return to work immediately after their child's birth.
