About quarter of a million, or 10%, of mothers with children under four are giving up their jobs for childcare

An equal rights charity's research indicates that around a quarter of a million women with small children have quit their employment as a result of childcare obligations.

The study found that many women were losing out on employment prospects for the same reason.

The Fawcett Society outlines that more mothers than ever before are employed.

Nevertheless, it stated that because their professions weren't advancing, they were effectively paying a "motherhood penalty".

Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, stated that "outdated and toxic attitudes around motherhood" combined with a lack of cheap childcare and flexible work opportunities were holding women back.

"Women, once they have children, find it's harder to progress or they're forced into part-time or low-paid jobs below their skill levels," she stated.

Based on their research, less than one-third of working women with children under four have the flexible work schedules they require.

In a poll of 3,000 working parents of preschool-aged children, which it carried out in collaboration with the recruiting company Totaljobs, one in ten moms reported having given notice, while twice as many said they had considered doing so.

The findings indicated that even mothers who made the decision to stick with it felt that the demands of both the job and children were holding them back.

According to the survey, 41% of mums said they had declined a chance for a promotion or professional advancement because they were concerned it wouldn't work with their childcare arrangements.13% of working fathers claimed to have followed suit.

The Fawcett Society believes the UK economy was being negatively impacted by the underemployment and underpromotion of mothers. This was attributed to lower worker productivity and an increased difficulty in narrowing the gender pay gap.

By providing more assistance to mothers with young children instead of putting them on the "mummy track," businesses may "retain talent and combat ongoing skills shortages," according to Ms. Olchawski.

Employers had the false impression that mothers and expectant mums had less interest in advancing their careers. According to the report, almost half indicated they were more ambitious, and the other 75% stated they were still as ambitious.

(Sources: bbc.co.uk)