Women Without Children Work Harder Than Working Mothers

A latest study suggests that women without children work harder than working mothers.

The U.K.-based Red magazine conducted the study and found that four in 10 childless women thought they worked harder than female colleagues with children. It also found that 42 percent were upset over the fact that the working mothers were given priority for leave requests.

Another 41 percent women said that they disliked the fact they had to work on behalf of the mothers on leave. And only 4 percent of mothers thought that leave permission bothered other female colleagues.

It is a common scene in offices that working parents usually rush home to look after their children.

For the study, researchers questioned 5,396 working mothers and childless women. The study further found that 86 percent of mothers look at the office as 'a secret relief and a rest.' However, 59 percent said they felt 'overwhelmingly guilty' for not spending enough time at home.

"The pressures of modern life are a huge juggling act whether you work part time, full time, are a full time mum or a non-parent," said Sarah-Bailey, editor-in-chief of Red, according to The Telegraph. "Only by lifting the lid on unspoken taboos can the workplace become better for all. Women are constantly agonising over achieving a work/life balance, but our survey findings show this 'balance' is one of the great myths of modern working life. We wanted to reveal what it's really like when children are added into the workplace mix and open up the dialogue in terms of what women really think of modern office life. Only then, can we encourage mature and honest conversation."

The research also found that over half of women without children were not ready to work for their colleagues because for them it was like 'two full-time jobs'.