Supporting Working Parents Through Back-to-School Season (and Beyond)

As we approach August, many families with children are beginning to plan for fall back to school. For companies undertaking a hybrid or in-person work schedule, employees with school-age children will likely need flexibility in their workday. It is important to open dialogue with these employees as the academic year quickly approaches.

Emploii Group values inclusivity and celebrates the diversity of candidates and employees in today’s job pool. To that extent, we recognize the importance of promoting flexibility, sharing resources, and opening dialogue about ways to support working parents.

Normalizing Conversation Pertaining to Family Commitments.

Enabling communication with employees about their unique home situations is critical. Company leadership should normalize conversations pertaining to family commitments on an interpersonal level. Simply knowing that an employee is a working parent opens the door for further discussion, connection, and support.

In a work from home scenario, it is entirely possible that children may be seen on camera. Normalizing this experience allows parents to feel more comfortable in their working environment. 

Promoting Flexibility Around Hybrid Work As Possible 

Though vaccine rollouts and evolving guidance have paved the way for offices to reopen, employees’ feelings about returning to an in-person space will vary. This transition may be corresponding with back-to-school time, so it is important to be open to employee needs. 

As parents adjust to changes in their children’s schedule, a hybrid work environment may allow for some much-needed flexibility. Anxiety can accompany these transitions, and some parents may be struggling with their work-life balance during this time. Managers should be responsive to requests for alterations in scheduling as possible.

According to Mercer United States, 1 out of 5 working parents claim that either they or their partner are evaluating becoming a full-time caregiver instead of working. This statistic highlights the changing dynamics of the current workforce. 

Providing Resources for Working Parents 

In recent years, services like Maven have emerged to help companies support employees through their parenting journey. Parenthood is a diverse experience and it is critical to offer resources that apply to families with various compositions. Promoting open communication about family concepts such as childcare, surrogacy, and adoption will allow employees to feel supported through their decisions. 

Businesses such as Intel, Microsoft, and Salesforce are even providing their employees with direct back-to-school support. Whether it be increased time off or assistance with child care, these resources provide extra flexibility for working parents who need it. 

Over the past year and a half, the separation between personal and professional lives has become less apparent than ever. Professional kindness and flexibility were critical to navigating the world during COVID-19, and this should continue as time progresses. Supporting employees through adjustments like back-to-school time will reduce anxiety, increase productivity, and help create a comfortable workplace for all.