The increased number of homes with two working parents is a positive development for many, but it also means it is critical for companies to find ways to support these working parents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2017, “Among married-couple families with children, 96.9 percent had at least one employed parent, and 61.9 percent had both parents employed.”
Working parents are more likely to look for jobs at companies that are parent-friendly and offer benefits that help them to have time to enjoy their children.
How Zendesk’s Parent Power Hour is Targeting Work-Family Balance
Zendesk is well aware of the need to help support their employees who are parents and help these parents achieve an ideal work-family balance. Outside of their software, Zendesk wants to help their own employees and customers find products and services that make it easier for them to achieve balance as busy working professionals and parents.
They are addressing these needs at their Zendesk Parent Power Hour on February 27, 2019. The special event will include giveaways and the opportunity to hear from other business leaders about how they balance work and family.
Plus, attendees will get to hear speakers from companies that all offer services or products that make it easier to achieve family work-life balance.
- GoKid: Our carpool app is designed to help busy parents work together with other parents to alleviate stress and make it easier to get their kids from here to there.
- Handy: This online marketplace is ideal for busy parents who need an extra hand – whether that is cleaning, furniture assembly, or other handyman tasks, they can find a handy helper in seconds.
- MM.LaFleur: Perfect for working women, this company sends women a hand-picked professional wardrobe by mail. Since working moms have little time to shop for clothing at a store, this is a lifesaver.
- Cleanly: An app that allows working parents to get their clothes picked up, cleaned, and delivered. It includes laundry cleaning and dry-cleaning services.
Ways Great Companies Show They Care About Their Employees as Parents
While it is always a good idea to look for products and services to make the lives of your employees easier, some things stand out as more appealing to employees who are parents. These are some of the things companies are doing to help parents in and out of the workplace:
- Better Benefits: Many parents will choose better benefits over a raise. For example, companies that offer longer maternal and paternal leave benefits are becoming more popular.
- Flexibility: It is becoming more common for companies to offer parents the opportunity to telecommute, work from home, or allow flex-time arrangements. For parents whose lives do not stick to the 9-5 schedule, flexibility is huge.
- Childcare: Childcare is often a major hurdle for working parents. Some companies are helping alleviate childcare stress by offering on-site childcare, providing backup childcare coverage, or giving employees a subsidy towards childcare costs.
- Parental Care and Support: Just by offering parents care and support, such as resources or counselors, parents are more apt to be happier, healthier employees.
- Encourage Work-Life Balance: More companies are recognizing the connection between work-life balance and productivity. If your workplace is one that makes employees feel like they can’t take a break, parents will burn out. Instead, companies should encourage their employees to take their vacations and use their leave days.
Create a Parent-Friendly Work Culture
Finally, it is important for companies to create a parent-friendly work culture. This means recognizing that parental care goes far beyond the first few weeks after childbirth. Treat parents with kindness and empathy, and give them the benefit of the doubt.
