3 essential benefits for working moms

3 benefit must-haves for every working mom

May 10, 2024 1:30 PM

Mom holding daughter on lap, smiling and working on laptop computer

It's almost Mother's Day, and employers should take the opportunity to both appreciate the dedication of working moms (and dads), and make sure their parental benefits are working equally as hard.

Nearly 70% of U.S. families with children under 18 included a working mother, according to recent data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). But balancing work with family is a big challenge, and companies that don't offer a parent-friendly culture and benefits package are at risk of losing this valuable talent. Pew Research found that mothers are more likely than fathers to make decisions that have adverse effects on their careers, such as cutting back or leaving work altogether, when the combination of parenting and employment becomes too much to manage.

Yet benefits like flexible schedules, financial wellness platforms, employee resource groups and more can enhance the lives of working parents at every stage of their journey. Pairing them with a company culture that fosters communication and support is a winning combination for employers and employees alike, says Cheri Wheeler, VP and senior consultant at Kelly Benefits Strategies and mother of two adult children.

"Having a policy that as long as you're getting your work done and you are delivering results, we don't care how or when — that's going to be how the new generation looks at the workforce," she says. "[Employees need to know] what is expected of them, and that if they can't manage it, we can figure out what resources we need to give them. We want them to have time with their family."

No matter the stage of parenthood, Wheeler shares three things employers should consider having in place:

Establish a great parental leave policy

As of 2023, only 27% of U.S. workers had access to paid family leave, according to the BLS. Meanwhile, research has shown that companies who do have these policies see a 10-15% average increase in retention, as well as increased engagement. Employers should make this benefit for new parents a foundational part of their offerings, and round it out with things like a gradual return-to-work plan so that mothers especially feel supported both while they are out and as they come back from leave, Wheeler says.

"Parental leave is an important benefit, not only for moms but for dads," Wheeler says. "Having the ability to take that time to be with a new child, while it has gotten more traction, is still not where it needs to be in this country."

Read more:

Working moms can do it all — with their employer's help

Consider help beyond child care

From daycare to day camp, children at most ages require some kind of additional care when parents are working. Along with financial assistance, parents can also use help investigating the many options for everything from elementary schools to college scholarships.

Wheeler encourages employers to explore resources that help parents find qualified care of every kind for all ages, including mental health options, education programs, before and after-school care and back-up child care.

"I have a client that has a caregiver support program, but they also have an educational component, so they'll help you get an IEP set up, they'll help you research schools," Wheeler says. "And when preparing for college, [have] resources for how to set up a 529 and different scholarship programs or student loan assistance programs. College kids also need a lot of mental and emotional support, so make sure they have the right mental and physical health resources."

Encourage employees to disconnect

Wheeler points out that parenting challenges have changed as new technology makes it possible to work from anywhere — a double-edged sword for many employees — and emphasizing and modeling work-life balance is a crucial part of modern management. Making sure employees can not only enjoy their PTO, but also have time during the workday to handle parenting tasks — from taking their child to the doctor to walking them to the bus stop — also goes a long way in keeping them afloat.

"It's great that we have digital tools that let people work whenever they want to, but there's a big struggle with work-life balance these days with people not being able to disconnect," she says. " I have clients that have Wellness Wednesdays, and there might be a meditation session or a seminar, but if you don't want to participate you can use that time for things that help yourself or your family. It's making people think that taking care of themselves is a good thing."