Britain is wasting a massive amount of talent as a result of "rigid models of work", a new report from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) claims.
Research from the organisation found that highly-qualified workers were being driven into jobs below their skill level in order to have a life outside of work, with 6.5 million people in Britain thought to be wasting their skills in this way.
Around 52 per cent of working men questioned for the survey and 48 per cent of women said that they wanted to work more flexibly, proving it isn't an issue restricted to working mothers, the EOC said.
Chair of the EOC Jenny Watson said: "Work just isn't working for many people any longer. Far too many people burn out, trade down or drop out altogether.
"Millions of people are working below their skill level in order to have a life outside the office."
She added: "Failing to rethink the way we've traditionally organised work is a chronic waste of talent and investment in education, at a time when Britain needs to invest heavily in skills to maintain its competitiveness globally."
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