Just as working parents feel like they’ve adjusted to summer schedules, it’s time to start thinking about sending the kids back to school. And with that, comes the stress of balancing both work obligations and school activities.
“Back-to-school season often comes with a whirlwind of activities for working parents — shopping for school supplies, attending orientations, arranging transportation, and adjusting to new routines,” says Stephanie Alston, president of BGG Enterprises. “These tasks can be time-consuming and may require parents to take time off or juggle their schedules, leading to disruptions in their workday. The added stress and logistical challenges can impact their focus and productivity at work.”
Recognizing the unique challenges working parents face during the busy back-to-school season — and throughout the year — and offering support can help employers build a happier, more productive workforce. Conversely, failing to acknowledge these challenges can lead to increased stress, burnout, and even higher turnover rates.
Here are a few ways employers can support working parents during the back-to-school season this year.
Be Flexible
Flexibility in the workplace can be a huge benefit for any worker. In Monster’s 2024 Work Watch report, workers agreed that having flexible work hours is the most important benefit employers can offer. For working parents, it can be even more crucial as they try to readjust to a new academic routine.
“Flexible schedules allow parents to attend to their children’s needs without compromising their job responsibilities,” Alston says. “This can mean starting or ending the workday earlier or later, taking extended lunch breaks, or working from home. Flexibility helps parents manage the demands of both their professional and personal lives more effectively, reducing stress, and increasing their ability to focus when at work.”
Help With Expenses
Back-to-school spending can really add up. Last year, the average household spent nearly $900 on supplies, clothes, and other school-related expenses. And amid still-high inflation, the financial burden can really take a toll on working parents during this time of year.
To help with the added expenses, Alston says employers can offer financial assistance to working parents. “Financial assistance could include back-to-school allowances or subsidies for childcare and school supplies,” she says. “Providing access to resources, such as on-site childcare, tutoring programs, and employee assistance programs can also be incredibly helpful.”
Offer Wellness Benefits
Burnout occurs when people have too much to do with too little time to do it. Unfortunately, this has become all too common in the workplace. According to Monster’s Work Watch report, three out of four workers feel burnt out, while 26% say their level of burnout has increased significantly over the past year. Working parents are even more at risk of developing burnout due to the challenge of juggling multiple demands at work and at home, especially during the hectic back-to-school season.
Wellness support, such as mental health benefits, and increasing paid time off can improve the wellbeing of not only working parents, but all employees. Offering health and wellness stipends is another way employers can provide extra benefits to working parents. These could be used for:
- Family counseling to help with the back-to-school transition.
- Gym memberships, personal trainers, or fitness classes to sweat out the stress of the back-to-school season in a healthy way.
- Massages to unwind after a long, stressful day balancing work and back-to-school activities.
- Meal delivery services to help working parents save time and a trip to the grocery store.
Listen to Parents’ Needs
Every employee has different needs, and the same is true of working parents. What a working parent with a kindergartener needs will likely be different from that of an employee with two kids in high school. Providing a safe space to talk about these challenges can help both employees and employers better understand each other’s needs.
“Clear, open communication is vital,” says Ritesh Seth, CEO and co-founder of Empathy Employer. “Managers should proactively reach out to working parents, express an understanding of the challenges they’re facing, and ask how they can help.” As the school year approaches, employers should encourage managers to set up one-on-one time with working parents to understand how they can best be supported in the months ahead.
Provide Continuous Support
Supporting working parents shouldn’t end when school starts. “Throughout the year, employers can offer parent support groups, provide resources for childcare or tutoring, and maintain flexible policies for school events or sick children,” Seth says. “It’s about creating a culture where employees feel valued as whole people, not just for their work output.”
Don’t just focus on parents
As organizations like Monster have realized, employees are their most important asset, so it’s imperative to find ways to help them do their best work. The fringe benefit of doing is that it also strengthens your employer brand. Offering creative benefits for all and developing an “everyone is in this together” culture helps ensure that your entire workforce feels supported.
If you’re looking for more ways to help your team get through the challenges ahead, and how to make sure your employee support is reflected in your employer branding and recruitment marketing, get help with expert recruiting advice and the latest hiring trends from Monster Hiring Solutions.