Ways employers can support working parents

4 ways to support working parents

March 24, 2023 11:56 AM

Working parents certainly have their hands full, but with the right support and benefits, they'll be with your company for the long-haul.

Because the U.S. lacks federal programs that cover and fund parental leave, child care and other critical support, employers are often the ones stepping in to fill the gaps. While every parent's needs may be different, affordable child care can be a critical component to helping working parents function, says Vivvi's CEO Charles Bonello.

"I think I avail myself to our benefits quite liberally — it's part of what allows me to function," Bonello says. "There are going to be child care needs, and they're going to happen consistently throughout that marathon of parenting."

Parents also need holistic healthcare support beyond annual visits to a pediatrician. As mental health challenges continue to afflict children and adolescents, the REACH Institute is offering training in mental health care and diagnosis so parents can avoid long wait times and get the care they need, when they need it.

Beyond that, flexibility remains key to allowing working parents the time and space to support their kids and careers. Check out these stories for the benefits, programs and messaging that prove to working parents that you have their back.

With 3 toddlers at home, child care benefits allow this CEO 'to function'

For the majority of employers, benefits for parents start and stop with a parental leave policy, yet it's when those kids get a bit older that benefits have a big impact, too, says Charles Bonello, CEO of child care benefits provider Vivvi.

"The biggest pain point for working parents isn't just when they come back from parental leave, but actually later, during the toddler and preschool years," Bonello says. "That's when parenting pressures increase, child care expenses increase, and there's a lack of support."

Bonello shares why this support is so valuable to both employees and their organizations, and what's at stake if employers leave working parents to figure it out on their own.

Read:

With 3 toddlers at home, child care benefits allow this CEO 'to function'

Pediatric care is incomplete without mental health care

Historically, physical and mental health care are not practiced by the same physician, let alone in the same room. But the REACH Institute is working to change that, in hopes of providing holistic care for families across the country.

"The issue is that kids who need mental health services are not getting them," says Dr. Lisa Hunter Romanelli, CEO of REACH. "Despite primary physicians often being first responders to various [concerns], the typical pediatric primary care provider does not get a lot of training in medical school on mental health issues in children."

Romanelli reveals what this should look like for employers and parents, and how REACH is supporting these efforts through training.

Read:

Pediatric care is incomplete without mental health care

Paid parental leave: More than just a workplace perk

While the research is clear on the benefits of paid parental leave for the physical, mental and financial health of families, the United States lacks a national paid parental leave policy, with only a handful of states offering leave policies at the local level. Employers play an outsized role in supporting new parents, and they stand to benefit as well.

Yet, as we've returned to pre-pandemic norms, some companies have walked back their benefit offerings, writes contributor Lianne Jacobs. Her company, Vitality, is taking a different stance, and this year has expanded its parental leave policy to allow primary and secondary caregivers additional, fully-paid time off.

Jacobs shares how her organization actively encourages employees who welcome a new child through birth, adoption, foster, surrogacy, or legal guardianship to take their full leave.

Read:

Paid parental leave: More than just a workplace perk

The 5 most in-demand benefits of 2023

Specific benefits can vary across organizations, but one thing is clear: In this competitive job market, the employers staying ahead of the game are using job postings to advertise in-demand offerings. Research from Adzuna shows dramatic three-year increases in benefits prioritizing health and wellness, family planning, tuition reimbursement, volunteering and flexibility.

"If we look at maternity and paternity leave, for example, those numbers are quite substantial and have shown a nice growth trend over the past few years," says James Neave, head of data science at Adzuna. "Statistically it's good evidence that potential employees will see this and recognize and assign value to it."

Neave walks through five specific benefits that companies are hoping will catch applicants' interest.

Read:

The 5 most in-demand benefits of 2023