If you run a business that has staff, you have a roster of employees made up of all different kinds of people. Some of these people will be parents, with young children that need taking care of during work hours. Some will also be expectant parents who require a few accommodations at this time in life, and will eventually be gearing up for parental leave.
These responsibilities can be hard to juggle when it comes to working full or part time at the same time. That’s why the best employers create their workplace rules and regulations around them.
Supporting the parents on your payroll creates an inclusive and welcoming environment that anyone would be happy to work within, and that can save you a lot of time and money in the long run! But if you’re not sure how to create this kind of child friendly business, we’ve got some tips for you.
Allow for Hybrid Working
If your employees don’t need to be in the office 24/7, why not allow for a hybrid working setup that means they can spend at least two days at home per week? Parents will jump at the chance to work in a professional environment that offers this.
It’ll cut down on their childcare costs per week, as they won’t need anyone else to be around. It’ll also mean they can spend more time with their children while also getting their work done. Hybrid work has been proven to be great for productivity, so don’t worry about distractions here!
Package Childcare into Your Employment Benefits
Childcare benefits aren’t all that common in the modern workplace, but they are available to offer as an employer. If you have quite a few parents working for you, offering it in their employment package would make all the difference to their work satisfaction and even their attendance rate.
Whether you want to offer childcare at work (more on that below) or you pay for childcare in a person’s home, you can include it in your benefits. Many parents will be appreciative of this, as childcare costs can be very high and the more you need them, the more you have to pay out for them. This can be impossible for a lot of working families, but this one shift in your benefits package could change it all.
Let Employees Bring Their Kids to Work
A workplace daycare can make all the difference to parents. This is an area run by specific childcare staff that can be relied on to take care of the kids without them being too far away. Parents can then spend time with their kids during breaks and their lunch.
Some parents may also have children who have special needs. Because of this, they may feel uncomfortable leaving their children with others that can care for them, or they may even find it difficult to find the appropriate childcare for them. In times like this, allowing them to bring their child to work with them and providing a safe space where they can be nearby cuts all the stress and pressure out of the situation.
It’s not just daycare you can offer either, as you can even invest in playground equipment at https://www.generalrecreationinc.com/inclusive-playground-equipment/ that’s made for children who have extra needs. This way they don’t miss out, can play with any other children in the workplace, and won’t feel unsupported or unsafe in this environment. That leads to a lot less disruption all round.
Don’t Give Parents Special Treatment
Now this might be a surprising thing to read considering everything we’ve said so far, but let us explain! This point doesn’t mean you ignore the fact that someone is a parent and has childcare responsibilities that may impact on their work performance.
What we’re really talking about is the fact that some of your employees may be parents while others are not, and neither side should be shown ‘special treatment’. Don’t make this standard of care ‘special’ when it should be normal for everyone – you don’t want any of your staff feeling that co-workers get privileges they don’t have access to.
This means if a person with children is allowed to rearrange their shift at the last second, so is someone who doesn’t have children, for example. Ensuring this fair balance prevents issues cropping up between your employees, which prevents your workplace atmosphere from turning sour over time.
Child friendly businesses are sorely needed in 2024!
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