Working parents face insurmountable challenges today. Research by the International Human Resources Studies revealed that some of the top challenges working parents face include work-life conflict, stereotyping, exhaustion, changing work schedules, and career growth opportunities. As a result of these challenges, many working parents have considered leaving a much-cherished career altogether in pursuit of other ventures.
Nevertheless, have you ever asked yourself why you, as a leader or manager, should support a working parent? For starters, besides doing that out of moral grounds, research shows that leaders or managers who support working parents in their companies experience several benefits. These include a 5.5-fold increase in revenue due to enhanced innovation. They also retain their employees longer. Eight-nine per cent of employees tend to stay longer with the company, while 92 per cent are willing to go the extra mile to get the work done.
Consider a few strategies that you could employ to make life easier for working parents.
Provide Clear, Accessible Written Workplace Policies
Outlining your company’s rules and regulations works for the benefit of both the employer and employee. In a single written source, clearly outline what resources are available for employees when they face challenges. In doing so, you help avoid unconscious bias and workplace resentment. When your policies are fair and thoughtful, you set the record straight and avoid any potential pitfalls that might lead to conflicts.
Offer Flexible Time
In the wake of the pandemic, many children’s learning priorities have shifted, and some are now partially or fully learning from home. To that end, parents might need to monitor them. One way you, as a leader or a manager, can help them in this regard is by adapting work schedules to help them accommodate school requirements. You can offer flexible hours to start and end the day, or you can also adopt a hybrid work model. Offering a flexible work schedule might include fewer meetings, but when parents can schedule their workday to time slots where they can be most focused and productive, everybody wins.
Offer Parental Leave
In many cases, fathers are often left out of parental leave; however, by considering their needs to bond with their children, you become more valuable to them. Mothers must get paid time off too, to take care of their children, even if it is for a couple of weeks only.
Establish Social Support Groups
One of the most challenging things for working parents is adapting to change upon the arrival of a new child. Creating a support group mitigates any challenges they might face and encourages them to stick around longer with your organization. Employees who feel valued are more likely to build strong bonds with the company and foster loyalty in the workforce.
Set a Positive Example
Your example says much about you. After all, when you live by your words and actions, employees are more likely to follow your footsteps. For example, a manager who returns to work the day after their child is born sends a strong message to his employees. Even if your employees don’t say anything about your actions or criticize them, they are more likely to copy them.
Create Wellbeing Programs
Many working parents are increasingly experiencing burnout, which comes as no surprise, since most parents have to juggle many responsibilities of work and parenting. To that end, you can create a safety net for them to fall back on. This can come in the form of mental health or stress management workshops that help them better cope with their roles at home and in the office. You could also offer employee benefit programs that provide a wide range of wellness solutions to help employees strike a work-life balance.
Acknowledge and Reward Success
To have a positive impact on your employees, take note of their small and big achievements outside of work. For example, you can publicly praise a team member who takes paternity leave or recognize parents’ hard work in integrating homeschooling and remote work. Whatever you do, these small actions can send a strong message of support to working parents, letting them know that they are valued and appreciated!
David Messiha | Staff Writer
