As summer comes to an end and fall begins, employees with school-age children may have increased caregiving responsibilities as their kids begin a new academic year. In addition to other day-to-day challenges, parents are now dealing with school pick-up and drop-off, unexpected sick days and other occurrences that could affect their work-life balance.

Employees may struggle with balancing these responsibilities with work, possibly causing their workplace performance and well-being to suffer. Employers can support employees during the transition into the school year by acknowledging these changes and offering flexibility. This article explores considerations for supporting working parents and caregivers during the back-to-school season.

Supportive Leave Policies

Illnesses are inevitable, especially as cold and flu season approaches. Therefore, employers may want to review their leave policies. While an organization’s policies may accommodate employees who become ill, family members could also become sick. Employers should consider offering workplace flexibility that allows them to leave and care for their family members if needed. Some employers have leave policies that allow employees to take time off when they or their family members are sick or when they need to receive vaccines for these illnesses.

During the back-to-school season, employers may reevaluate their current leave offerings to ensure they reflect these realistic needs. Supportive leave policies can help reduce employee stress and burnout, increase job satisfaction and promote overall well-being. Employees who feel supported by their employers as they balance work and family responsibilities are more likely to stay at their current jobs.

Flexible Working Arrangements

Remember that life happens, and unexpected circumstances will arise. Employers can consider providing remote and hybrid work models when possible or as needed. Even when remote and hybrid work is not feasible, flexible scheduling can allow employees time for other tasks, such as dropping off or picking up their children from school.

Furthermore, the workplace could implement core hours that allow employees some leniency in when they can start and stop their days. Regardless of the accommodations an employer chooses, it’s important to communicate to employees that the company is willing to work around events that may arise in their lives. This assurance may reduce stress during the back-to- school transition and could positively impact employee retention. However, it’s important to note that accountability should come with flexibility, so employees must work out any arrangements with their managers and teams.

Resources for Caretakers

Nearly 3 out of 4 employees have some type of current caregiving responsibility, according to a Harvard Business School report. Moreover, 1 out of 3 employees have voluntarily left a job at some point during their careers because of their caregiving responsibilities. While it may not be feasible for all employers to directly provide caretaking services, they can help ensure their employees have access to such resources.

Employers may consider hosting a workshop, distributing a handout or otherwise providing information on caretaking resources. Even if there are no specific caregiving benefits available at an organization, managers or supervisors could simply ask working parents how they are doing during the back-to-school season. This kicks off an open dialogue, demonstrating an interest in how they’re doing as a person and helping reduce guilt about juggling personal and work responsibilities.

Furthermore, many schools end between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., which means working parents might need child care for several hours or leave to handle it themselves. When school is closed due to holidays or professional development, these employees may have to find a secondary plan for those days while they’re still working. Helping employees feel supported during their search for caretakers or after-school programs for their children can go a long way in making them feel supported and may boost overall employee retention.

Takeaway

The back-to-school transition is a critical time for employees who have school-age children and associated caretaking responsibilities. As a result, employers should prepare to be flexible, accommodate employees during this transition and provide relevant resources. These efforts can help make a difference in employee morale and wellness and ultimately assist in appealing to and keeping workers during a time when attraction and retention are significant challenges for organizations.

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This HR Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.