Most businesses are designed with the ideal worker as mind-single, childless, and able to devote long hours to their job. However, this model leaves out a large portion of the population: parents who need to balance their careers with their family life.
Fortunately, a growing number of businesses are starting to innovate to better meet the needs of working parents. Below are modern practices that allow parents to have successful careers without sacrificing their time with their families.
On-Site Child Care
One of the biggest challenges for working parents is finding quality child care they can afford. According to a report from Child Care Aware, the average cost of child care in the United States is $9,589 per year for an infant and $6,576 per year for a 4-year-old. For many families, these costs are not feasible.
However, some businesses are starting to offer on-site child care as an employee benefit. This perk not only makes it easier for parents to find quality child care, but it also can save them money. For example, Amazon offers child care for employees, emphasizing providing support for working parents. This step helps ensure parents have the support they need to focus on their job while also caring for their children.
As a result, parents no longer have to sacrifice their careers to stay home with their children and can still make an impact in their fields.
Outsourced Services
Another modern practice helping to achieve work-life balance is the increasing trend of outsourcing services. It can range from delivering meals through a meal kit service to hiring a virtual assistant to handle mundane tasks such as scheduling appointments or paying bills.
Outsourcing makes it easier for working parents to manage their time and reduce the amount of stress caused by trying to juggle conflicting priorities. Furthermore, many of these services are relatively inexpensive, making them more accessible for businesses on a tight budget.
Especially for companies that involve 24/7 operations, outsourcing other tasks to third-party vendors can help create more flexibility for working parents. One typical example is a home care business. Because employees in this field often have to work long hours physically, they might need more time to take care of the technical side of the business. Thus, outsourced services from a reliable home care SEO company can lift the obligation of marketing tasks and help them have more time to spend with their families.
This also applies to other industries that require 24/7 operations, such as transportation and hospitality.
Flexible Work Hours
Another challenge for working parents is finding the time to work and care for their families. Traditional 9-to-5 work hours can make it tricky for parents to be present for their job and their children. Luckily, more and more businesses are starting to offer flexible work hours that allow employees to design a schedule that works for them.
For example, software company HubSpot allows employees to work from home twice a week. These reduced on-site workdays give employees more time to spend with their families or take care of personal errands. And because they’re not tied to a traditional office setting, they can be more productive when working-a win-win for both employees and employers.
Other businesses offer more flexible working hours, allowing employees to start their day earlier or come in late. This flexibility helps parents accommodate extracurricular activities for their children or make time for family needs. It also allows employers to retain talented employees who might otherwise have to leave the company due to family commitments. With this strategy, employers can create a supportive work environment where employees feel valued and appreciated.
Remote Working
Remote working has become increasingly popular as businesses have had to adapt quickly due to the pandemic. This arrangement allows employees to work from anywhere, making it more convenient for parents to care for their children while still fulfilling their job duties.
Remote working also eliminates long commutes and creates more flexibility regarding working hours and location. It allows parents to customize their schedules to fit their family’s needs while still being productive at work.
Additionally, it enables businesses to tap into a larger talent pool that might not be available in their local area. It helps employers attract top talent that might not have been willing to relocate for a job. This arrangement is beneficial for both employers and employees.
Balancing a career and family life can be a challenge, but modern practices such as those listed above can help working parents achieve a healthy work-life balance. From outsourcing services to flexible work hours and remote working, these strategies make it easier for businesses and employees alike to achieve success. By taking advantage of these modern practices, parents can have more time to dedicate to their families and careers.
