Working 9.30-3: The most school run-friendly jobs revealed as summer holidays come to an end

• Indeed Flex has revealed the best jobs for parents to make sure they can work around the school run
• Chef is the top paying school run-friendly job, as more than half (57%) of chefs taking shifts through Indeed Flex are choosing to work more sociable hours
• Mums say temporary work is most compatible with childcare, as parents can work in term-time but be home during school holidays

As parents prepare to send their children back to school this week, Indeed Flex, the online marketplace for flexible and temporary work, has revealed the best jobs to fit around the school run¹.

While juggling the demands of raising a family, many mums and dads will want a job that is accommodating enough for them to carry out parenting duties, especially when children are younger.

This flexibility is especially important for parents who want to do the school drop-off in the morning and pick their children up in the afternoon.

Indeed Flex has revealed the jobs on its platform with shifts that can fit around the school run. The roles can be found in the hospitality, retail and industrial sectors and can all start at 9.30am and finish at 3pm.

Top five most school run-friendly jobs

Out of the top five most school run-friendly jobs, chefs are the best paid with an average hourly wage of £17.89. Despite being typically thought of as an unsociable role — with long hours and late nights — Indeed Flex also found that 57% of chefs using its platform are opting for more sociable hours when choosing their shifts².

Historically, logistics firms have not always offered flexible hours to staff, but this is changing, with warehouse operatives emerging as one of the most school run-friendly jobs.

In the logistics sector, two in five (39%) businesses say their biggest staffing challenge is ensuring they have enough employees to fill each shift, while nearly a quarter (23%) said retaining permanent employees and contract workers is their biggest problem³.

Indeed Flex found that two in five (41%) logistics firms have implemented increased flexibility in working hours to ensure adequate coverage for each shift³. Amazon, for example, has made it possible for parents and grandparents who work in its warehouses to be able to choose to work in term-time only⁴.

Meanwhile, separate data from Indeed Flex revealed that a quarter of mums (25%) are taking up temporary work as it is the only type they can easily fit around childcare, while nearly a third (30%) said that the flexibility also allows them to be home for the school holidays⁵.

Novo Constare, CEO and Co-founder of Indeed Flex, said: “Becoming a parent means juggling many extra responsibilities, and this doesn’t change once the children are old enough to go to school. Yet finding a job which provides the flexibility that parents need can pose a challenge.

“Firms are now realising that if they want to attract and retain staff they need to offer employment options which can fit around their workers’ lifestyles.

“This means sectors that historically have not already offered flexible working options are starting to introduce them.

“With staff shortages still persistent in many industries, it is important that employers continue to offer hours that can work for parents and grandparents who have caring responsibilities during term-time and the school holidays.

“Temporary roles can be perfectly suited to the school run, allowing mums and dads to leave home in the morning with their kids and return home together in the afternoon.”

¹Indeed Flex analysed all roles on its platform to find those that offer working hours between 9.30am and 3pm.
²Indeed Flex analysis of chef shift patterns on its platform.
³Indeed Flex survey of 100 warehousing and facilities management professionals.
⁴BBC News: Amazon to offer parents term-time-only working
⁵Indeed Flex survey of 2,000 UK women.