Pregnancy and children are holding women back from achieving top levels in business, research from online brand Monster suggests.

Nearly half (48%) of those who voted in a ‘Monster Meter’ on the question ‘what do you think is the biggest obstacle for women in pursuing a successful career?’ responded that pregnancy and children were putting the brakes on women’s careers.

One in five (21%) said the ‘macho culture’ at work, where women may find it difficult to be accepted as equals by men, prevented women from reaching the top. Pay and attitude come last in the list.

The way of removing these obstacles, according to Monster, is to encourage the take-up of flexible and remote working.

Sajda Khan, equality and diversity manager at Monster, said: “With a wider adoption of the European flexible working directive and a shift in attitudes, we are likely to see an improvement in the situation of women in the workplace.”