Mothers who have returned to work after having a baby should be given greater professional flexibility to help them establish a better work-life balance, it has been suggested.

A recent study from onepoll.com found that in many cases mothers are struggling to meet the demands of both raising a child and maintaining a successful career, reports HRzone.co.uk.

Despite many mothers facing the considerable costs of child care, only four per cent of employers in the UK allow staff members in this situation to operate from their own homes.

And while 28 per cent of bosses allow their employees to work flexible hours there is more that can be done to help professional mothers, suggests John Sewell, onepoll.com’s managing director.

He said: "It’s encouraging that some employers are working with mothers and being flexible to allow them to go back to their jobs, but, according to the results of this survey, not enough is being done to help those parents who want to carry on with their career."

Last month, the leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron claimed flexible working practices, including working from home, should become more widespread among British businesses.