WORKING parents are spending more than £1,000 a year on treats for their children to make up for the guilt they feel at being away from home, according to a new report.
A survey of more than 1,000 adults by the Skipton Building Society showed one in four spent as little as 10 hours a week with their children.
Most of those polled said they did not feel they spent enough time with their families and many felt guilty.
Fathers were more likely to feel guilty and spend money on presents for their children.
Jennifer Holloway of the building society said: "For any parent, doing the best for their child often comes at a cost - either in time or money.
"For those who can't afford the former, the latter can often seem like the best way to pay penance for spending so much time at work.
"However, mothers and fathers should consider whether spending cash on gifts and treats - sometimes thousands of pounds - is the best course of action."
