How to Support Parents of School-Aged Children in a Hybrid Office

The fall semester brings challenges and stress to working parents as they adjust to new schedules and try to find child care, which can also add financial stress.

As more and more employees are return to officeworking parents also lose some of the flexibility that working from home provides. According to UrbanSitter, an online service that connects parents to child care providers42% of parents are hybrid workers and 31% are in the office full time. This loss of flexibility makes child care arrangements even more important for working parents.

“We saw a huge increase in bookings when companies implemented mandatory drop-off last year,” UrbanSitter CEO Lynn Perkins told EBN. Deanna Cuadra. “Before, parents were able to cover at least a few afternoons, but now they need help because they no longer have the same availability.”

Perkins remembers one employer who deployed his return to office mandates as well as a childcare allowance. “It was really thoughtful, but I’ve only seen one partner do that with the introduction of the return to the office,” she says.

Learn more: Creating the Right Environment for Your Working Parents

Determining the needs of a workforce will help determine the support working parents receive. Depending on the industry or job, what works for some organizations, teams or individuals may not work for others, but there are many ways employers can demonstrate support for all working parents. Surveys, general and team meetings, and feedback from employee resource groups can be great ways to determine parents’ stress points and how to resolve them.

“It’s really important to support parents emotionally,” said Stephanie Edenburgh, CEO of parenting platform Bizzie Mommy. Lee Hafner. “That’s why I create a space where they feel they can talk openly about the challenges of balancing work and family, especially during transitions like going back to school.” I’ve always encouraged my team to share what they think, and we collaborate. find solutions that allow you to manage work while respecting family commitments.

A remote culture first is conducive to balancing parenthood and work, Deepak Shukla, founder and CEO of digital marketing firm Pearl Lemon Group, told EBN. Lee Hafner.

“We offer an internal resource sharing platform where parents can exchange trusted child care recommendations and resources,” Shukla said. “We (also) offer access to wellness resourcesincluding mental health support, recognizing the importance of managing work-life balance during this turbulent time. Supporting parents is not just about flexible working; it’s about recognizing their dual roles and creating an environment where they don’t have to choose between family and career. »

Learn more: 10 Companies That Let You Work From Anywhere

PWC provides additional support to working parents all year round, but understands that going back to school can bring additional stress. The company offers financial support and reimbursements to parents and has launched a dedicated Parental Inclusion Network, which includes various parenting resources and a peer-to-peer connection program with the goal of fostering community among working parents. give a possibility of additional support.

“Daily flexibility is also ingrained in our culture, such as reduced hours and pay-adjusted time off to help working parents balance their family and work needs,” said Chris Santucci, Corporate Risk and Privacy Associate. data at PwC and father of two, at EBN. Paola Peralta. “Fostering a culture of wellbeing and flexibility is essential to creating an environment in which working parents can truly thrive. »

Learn more about how businesses can provide additional support to parents during the back-to-school period.