National Working Parents Day
September 16th is National Working Parents Day - did you know that 42% of parents who work are seeking alternative employment because of a lack of support from employers? Did you also know that in the last year, 250,000 mothers left employment due to a lack of flexibility causing difficulties with childcare? The lack of support for working parents is one of the biggest causes of talent loss for companies, so what can be done to support parents and keep them in the world of work?
Flexible working
The ability to work around childcare responsibilities by offering changes to the typical work week such as shorter hours to fit around school schedules or working from home makes a massive difference to both the attendance and productivity in working parents!
Childcare support
Consider whether an on-site nursery could be of benefit to your company - most workplace nurseries are exempt from taxes and national insurance contributions, depending on the scheme and type of childcare you provide.
Enhanced parental leave
From January 2025, BT will be offering a total of 52 weeks of paid leave to families, regardless of how the family is made up. This is broken down into 18 weeks of full pay, 8 weeks of half pay and a further 26 weeks of statutory pay. In doing this, not only are they benefitting themselves by appearing to be a more attractive company to work for, but they are also allowing for a more equal experience of parenthood between working mothers and fathers! Why not take a leaf out of their book and see what more you could offer?
Family-friendly policies are one thing, but the attitude employers have towards this issue is the biggest change that working parents are desperate for. Many mothers report feeling as if going on maternity leave is a burden to the business, and are frequently passed up for promotions or extra responsibilities because of what is referred to as the “motherhood penalty”. In a study by Cornell University, it was proven that mothers who were equally qualified as their childless counterparts were 100% less likely to receive promotions because it was assumed they were less competent and committed to their jobs.
In summary, what is the easiest way to boost the retention and employee experience of working parents? To be accommodating and compassionate.
Has this article opened your eyes to the ways you can support your working employees? For further advice, get in touch today.