Factors that motivate and disrupt single mothers in the workplace.

Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.Single parenting is rapidly becoming a growing trend in society. In South Africa an estimated 30% of households are headed by single parents. The key aim of the study was to establish whether single parents prioritized their careers over children. In an endeavour to determine the factors that motivate and disrupt single mothers in the workplace, a sample of 146 subjects was selected utilising non-probability sampling. Non-probability sampling was utilized to create the sample because there was no method of determining the precise size of the population from which it was going to be drawn. Two types of non-probability sampling were utilized to select the sample, namely purposive and snowball sampling. The sample consisted of 45 parents aged 21-24; 51 parents aged 25-34 and 50 parents aged 35-49. Data was collected using structured and self-completion questionnaires which were administered via e-mail. The analysis revealed that parents aged 25-49 had adequate economic resources and showed more concern for their children‟s academic achievements than younger parents, although not much assistance was given to their children in the area of homework. The study found that younger parents‟ economic conditions were inadequate and these parents did not participate in their child‟s school activities nor did they assist them with homework. A salient feature of this study is that young single parents aged 21-24 showed less concern for their children‟s education and well-being. The primary recommendation of this study is that members of society should wait until they have stable careers and a stable economic situation before they start families, as this will have positive ripple effects on the lifestyle they lead, irrespective of whether they are single parents or not