83% of working parents consider work-life balance the most important factor when choosing an employer

Balancing professional responsibilities and family life is becoming more challenging than ever for working parents in today’s fast-paced work environment. Supporting working parents has a positive impact that leads to higher job satisfaction, increased productivity, happier employees and therefore improved retention rate. 

The real question is whether your organisation is doing everything you can to support working parents? Or are there areas for significant improvements to be made?

Providing the right level of support can make a significant difference in the lives of your employees and in turn positively impact your company’s overall success. 

To make a positive impact on the lives of your employees who are working parents, implement these five key strategies to develop a supportive environment.

 5 Strategies Every Organisation Should Know To Support Working Parents

1. Offer Flexible Working Arrangements

Offering flexible working arrangements is one of the most impactful ways to support working parents. Flexible working could mean the potential to work remotely, work compressed weeks or have a flexible start and finish times. Having a flexible approach to working allows parents to manage their work responsibilities whilst also being able to meet the demands of childcare and any other family obligations. 

Related Article: ‘Importance Of Flexible Working For Employee Work-Life Balance’

2. Provide Parental Leave Benefits

Parental leave is a critical component of supporting working parents with their children. Beyond the legal requirements, offering enhanced parental leave policies demonstrates that your organisation values family life. This includes not just maternity leave, but also paternity leave and leave for adoption.

Related Article: ‘4 Ways Paternity Leave Can Boost Employee Retention’

3. Create a Supportive Company Culture

A supportive company culture goes beyond policies—it’s about creating an environment where working parents feel understood and valued. This can include offering resources like parenting workshops, employee resource groups for parents, or even just fostering a culture where taking time for family is encouraged and respected.

4. Provide Childcare Support

Childcare is one of the biggest challenges for working parents. Organisations can support their employees by offering childcare assistance, whether through on-site daycare facilities, partnerships with local childcare providers, or childcare subsidies. If on-site childcare isn’t feasible, consider offering discounts with local childcarfe providers as this small investment can make a big difference in the lives of your valuable employees. 

5. Promote Work-Life Balance

Encouraging a healthy work-life balance is crucial for supporting working parents. This means not just offering flexible policies on paper, but actively promoting their use. Ensure that employees don’t feel pressured to sacrifice their personal time for work and that taking advantage of flexible options won’t negatively impact their career progression.

Related Article: ‘5 Ways to Help Your Employees Maintain Work-Life Balance While Working Remotely: Are You Supporting Their Wellbeing?’

Supporting working parents is not just a nice-to-have; it’s a business imperative. By implementing these five strategies, your organisation can create a more inclusive, productive, and loyal workforce. In turn, this will help your company attract and retain top talent, reduce turnover, and boost overall employee morale. Remember, when you support working parents, you’re not just helping them—you’re strengthening your entire organisation.

If you need professional and experienced HR support contact Paul at Coppice HR (paul@coppicehr.com or 07814 008478).