It’s Essential to Support Working Parents Within Your Company

Working parents have life skills that are critical in strong leadership roles. 

Mother’s Day 2023 has come and gone with Father’s Day just around the corner, so let’s talk about the value of working parents in your company and why it’s so important to support them.

Parents make up roughly 40% of the workforce and have a challenging balancing act of caring for their children and keeping up with the demands of their jobs.

Between the mental load of managing a household, helping their kids with schoolwork, staying connected to their partners, and effectively managing a career, little time remains to focus on their own health and well-being. 

It’s no surprise that the hours each week of dealing with stress, anxiety, and caregiving, lead many parents to walk away from their jobs, or at least look for something more manageable.

Many experts suggest that the skills developed as a parent, such as empathy, multitasking, flexibility, problem-solving, understanding, time management, communication, and resiliency are all critical in the workplace. That being the case, parents can make some of the finest leaders, contributing to the success of the business.

So, here’s the question: As a business owner or manager, how can you effectively support the parents who work in your business? 

Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

Sometimes working parents feel the need to put in more hours at work to prove they’re committed to their jobs. But because they must divide their attention between work and home it’s important to avoid a culture of presenteeism, where more hours at work are rewarded as a sign of greater contribution and productivity. Make it clear that working long hours isn’t what it takes to be successful as a team member, emphasizing that quality of work is what matters. 

Be Flexible and Trusting
One of the greatest ways managers and business owners can support the parents within your company is to encourage flexibility. Show that you trust them if they need to leave work early to pick up their kids. Being more understanding helps to build trust. Because of the unpredictability of kids, an urgent doctor visit or mishap at school is not uncommon. Trust that your employees will do what it takes to get their work done.

Respect Boundaries
While it’s thoughtful to ask your employees about their kids and family, they may not always want to have a conversation. Perhaps it’s been a tough week at home or there is a family issue. If you get any sense that it’s not a good time to have the conversation, simply respect their boundaries and move on with business.

Acknowledge the Challenges
Recognize that it can be hard for parents to balance everything. Many working parents are torn with guilt that they are not contributing enough time to either work or home or both. Allow your employees the space to be open about the challenges they face and validate their feelings when relevant. Make it clear that perfection is not expected and making their family a priority is understandable and preferred.

Encourage Transparency
Encourage parents on your team to feel comfortable blocking taking time off for child-caring duties – whether that’s a school event, a doctor’s appointment, or anything else that needs parental time. Let it be understood, loud and clear that their familial responsibilities are okay, and they can plan and adjust their work schedule as needed.

Express Your Support
It’s so important to show your commitment to the well-being of your employees and their families. Encourage your team members to plan time off with their loved ones and disconnect at reasonable hours so they can really be present in their home lives. When possible, organize a team event throughout the year in which family members are invited to attend and participate.

If a proud parent chooses to share the name of their kid(s) with you, do your best to remember them. Occasionally asking about their kids by name really goes a long way in showing that you genuinely care.

Applaud Achievements
Working parents put great value in the raises and promotions at work but are often reluctant to decline taking on more work. When building growth paths for your employees, make sure to actively recognize their professional and personal achievements. Whether it’s the completion of a major project or their child’s first birthday, acknowledge those milestones and your employees will feel seen and appreciated. 

Witmer Group is an active, digital marketing team of diverse, talented individuals with a broad range of experience in advertising, marketing, data science, content creation, social media and project management. We work with our clients flexibly and inventively, starting with a well-thought-out collaboration, externally and internally to create integrated marketing strategies that result in successful marketing defined by growth.