Parents’ reactions to the school holidays can be more complex. Teachers and children may find it the best time of the year, but parents often have a different reaction. Recent research shows that UK families spend an extra PS 1,700 per month for childcare during the summer. The financial burden of childcare is likely to increase as the half-term holiday approaches. The problems are not just financial. Parents often struggle to find a balance between the demands of their work and the need for time with family.
Employers have the opportunity to relieve employee stress during this period and show their commitment to their wellbeing. Employers can use family-friendly policies, such as flexible working hours and childcare support to create an environment where parents feel supported and uplifted.
Flexible working: A right, not an option
In the UK, things have changed over the past few years. Flexible working is not just an option anymore, it’s a legal requirement. The Employee Rights Bill, passed by Labour recently, includes options like a four-day week and the right to switch off. Today, investing in flexible policies that are family-friendly is no longer just a moral victory. It’s a legal requirement.
These things are particularly relevant when it comes to supporting working parents. Employers can create an environment where top talent is attracted and retained by offering flexible work schedules that go above and beyond the legal requirements. They also allow working parents to be productive when they are on the job.
Employers can provide flexible work arrangements by compressing the length of their workweek. Working four 10-hour-days instead of five eight-hour-days can give parents more flexibility, time with their families and save money on childcare.
Employees can be given the choice of hybrid and remote work, which is a great option for working parents who are in the middle of the semester. Parents can choose which days to use childcare and have more control over their schedule. This encourages a good work-life balance.
Use the resources at your disposal
Employers who don’t know where to begin can also benefit from employee benefits platforms. Businesses should offer a variety of benefits to their employees to suit their lifestyle. There is rarely a single benefit that will fit everyone’s needs. This is usually childcare vouchers for working parents.
Care4 vouchers can offset the costs of childcare for the half-term. Unfortunately, this is often an expensive and difficult option for many families. It can be a major issue, especially for single mothers and fathers who are working.
Creating a supportive culture
It is also important to keep open lines of communication between employees and managers in order to better understand their challenges and needs during the break. Your employees will appreciate your efforts to create a space that is empathic and supportive of employees facing childcare or financial difficulties. But your business can also benefit from this.
Employers must also think about how to extend this attitude beyond school holidays. Flexible working hours can be implemented all year long, so parents won’t feel left out when childcare is more urgent during school holidays. Businesses should look at how flexible working hours, blended days and the option to work from home can help create a culture where parents don’t have to balance their professional and parental responsibilities.
Productive employees are happy employees
It is important that businesses take a moment to review their policies as we approach the half-term break. Employers can create a supportive environment for parents by looking at flexible policies, business culture, and benefits. It will not only help to promote work-life harmony and employee wellbeing, but it will also be vital for the business’s success and compliance in the years ahead. It is not just beneficial to employees, but it also leads to a more productive workforce and a more engaged workforce.
The first time this post appeared was on HR News.
