TweetShareShare Working parents have it harder than just about anyone when it comes to work-life balance.
The truth is, all multi-functioning adults have to compartmentalize commitments and prioritize responsibilities. We’re all wearing a variety of hats. And companies, of course, need some amount of accountability and reliability from their employees. Founders shouldn’t be vilified for insisting on as much.
1) Offer mental health days. This may seem small, but giving employees explicit permission to take a day off on short notice if they need to can go a long way toward easing their minds. 2) Be flexible in allowing parents to leave work when child-related situations come up. In a similar vein, parents need to know that if they need to leave work early to attend their son’s dance recital, or their daughter’s little league game, they can do that.Parents, in my experience, don’t abuse this leniency. And having it in their back pockets allows them to focus on their work when they’re in the office––uninterrupted by anxiety.
4) Offer the ability to work from home. Employees, simply put, are happier when they have the chance to work from home once or twice a week.As a CEO, however, I will say that in my experience, employees tend to be more productive when they’re in the office. So allow your teams the chance to do this, but only at a clip that you feel makes sense for you and your business.
Sure, planning and holding events after work or on weekends may not make working parents’ day-to-day lives easier, but in my experience, they engender happiness, contribute to a kinder and happier company culture, and show a certain appreciation on your part for the importance of community and family.Although all these steps might seem small, they can make a huge difference.